La Mancha — Spain

Samuel Canos, a fourth-generation winemaker in La Mancha, tends 35 hectares of family vineyards but uses only 10% of the grapes for his own high-quality production, selling the rest to a local organic co-op. Embracing a blend of organic, biodynamic, and unconventional practices, Samuel favors innovation, such as using cow’s milk instead of sulfur to protect against mildew.

La Mancha’s hot, dry summers, combined with its elevation (700–800m) and limestone-rich soils, result in wines that are both rich and mineral-driven. Samuel is known for aging all his wines in square containers and crafting a 100-day skin-contact white from the old Airén vines planted by his grandfather. This unique wine is fresh, light, and complex, with bright tannins and lingering depth.