Quinta do Muradella

In the late 1980s, a young José Luis Mateo made a decision that shook his blue-collar parents: He was quitting university in Madrid and returning to his far-flung home in Verín, a tiny Galician town five miles from the Portuguese border, to make wine. His parents’ cause for concern was well founded: rural Galicia had been in decline since the 1970s, and they hoped their son would take the academic route. However, José Luis had spent much of his youth tending his father’s one-hectare vineyard and knew in his heart that Monterrei’s vineyards were to be his life’s work. So, José came home, and eventually thrived beyond his wildest imagination. 

In 1990, José started Quinta da Muradella, and originally paid the bills by producing wine for the family taberna. But over time, the unassuming vigneron saw his reputation soar; first in his native Galicia, then among young Spanish sommeliers who were looking for more freshness and terroir in their wines. Finally, the cult became international in scope. Today, José has become one of the most idolized and respected winemakers in all of Spain, and his tiny production has reached cult status. The wines are soulful and singular, with dazzling personalities. They rank among Spain’s very best.