MARTA MATÉ

Ribera del Duero is a vast area stretching from the province of Segovia in the southeast (and closest to Madrid) to Valladolid in the northwest. Burgos is the northernmost of the provinces in the appellation. Marta Maté is based here in the village of Tubilla del Lago, with some of the highest vineyards in the appellation, at just under 1,000m. The area is greener than the warmer zones to the west, and a cooling breeze makes the summer heat feel less oppressive. Most noticeable is the lack of red clay soils that dominate other areas. Deep limestone layers, up to 7 metres deep, over a subsoil of compressed sand and clay, make these vineyards unique.

Our first visit to see Marta Castrillo and César Maté was just a few days after a hailstorm had destroyed most of the 2025 crop. The vines looked like they had been attacked by a biblical swarm of unwanted insects—one vineyard remained intact, bypassed by the indiscriminate shredder. Touring the vineyards with César Maté, he declared how devastating it was emotionally, but that there was nothing that could have been done. It is one of the hardest parts of being a farmer. In the vineyards, they work organically, and one very old parcel is biodynamic (although not certified); César stressed that it is a way of life, not a business decision. Grasses are planted in alternating rows of bush vines (en vaso), and except for one new vineyard, most of the vines are between 25 and 120 years old.

El Holgazán is a single-vineyard plot at 850 metres. The vines are 25 years old, on mixed clay and stony soils. 100% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), the bunches are completely destemmed before a short maceration. Élevage is 6 months in 30- and 600 litre French and American oak barrels.

Viñas del Lago is a blend that best represents the terroir and aspect of the village Tubilla del Lago. The vines are between 80 and 120 years old, in small plots (the largest being 0.4ha), on calcareous soils above 900 metres. Some plots are co-planted and co-fermented with Tinto Fino, Albillo, and Garnacha. The grapes undergo a short maceration before fermentation in cement tanks, then spend 12 months in mostly French barriques. It is aged another 6 months in cement tanks before bottling.

Marta Maté is a 100% Tinto Fino from 100+ year-old vines in Tubilla del Lago and high-altitude vineyards in Gumiel del Mercado. They use biodynamic techniques and minimal tillage in these very old vineyards. Fermentation is in concrete tanks before 14 months in French barriques, then back into cement for another 6 months.

https://www.martamate.com/en/