In 2006 Gonzalo Celayeta started to work as a winemaker at Bodegas San Martín, the local cooperative in San Martín de Unx, within the subarea of Baja Montaña in the DO Navarra. This small village is one of the last strongholds of old Garnacha vines in the appellation.
Born in the nearby medieval town of Olite and trained at EVENA (Navarra’s Viticulture and Oenology Centre), Celayeta launched his own little project in 2004. The first wine he made was Enos, a red blend of local and international grape varieties, although he is now focused on Garnacha from San Martín de Unx.
Production is very low. He barely produces 10,000 to 13,000 bottles distributed among white, rosé and red wines. The White Garnacha Hacienda El Caserío (2,000 bottles, €9 in Spain) is fermented and aged in oak for three months as does the Garnacha rosé La Huella de Aitana (1,500 bottles, €9.90), which bears his daughter’s name. Perhaps El Piano (2,000 bottles, €9) is his most interesting wine. Grapes are sourced from vineyards planted at 600m of altitude and the wine really reflects the expression of an Atlantic Garnacha with lots of forest and wild herb aromas.
