The Story 

For the son of a winery worker, Mariano García's rise to head winemaker of Vega Sicilia was transcendent. When another taster was needed for a blind tasting teenaged Mario was randomly pulled into the winemaker's office. Of all the tasters he was the only one to identify the two wines in the tasting that were identical. This gifted taster was immediately put to work and by age 24 he had taken over as winemaker of the legendary estate, a role he held for 30 years. During times of exceptional turmoil at the estate in the 1980's and early 1990's, there were two threads that held it together: Vega Sicilia's proud traditions and Mariano García.  Consequently, the world of fine wine was stunned several years ago when Mariano suddenly left Vega Sicilia. 

Today, Mariano García consults on projects throughout Spain, but his most important endeavor is in Vega Sicilia's own backyard: Bodegas Aalto in Ribera del Duero. Now considered one of the great estates of Spain, after just a few vintages, Aalto proudly sits among Ribera del Duero's elite. As far as Ribera del Duero experts go, Mariano García has no equal.  When it came time for his own project to take flight Mariano knew exactly where to find the best and oldest available vineyards; Aalto's wines demonstrate his rare gift for articulating their special character.