There are some wine projects that steal your heart at the outset – Banzao is one of them. This hidden gem, organically farmed and bursting with soul, is the work of Madrid-born Silvia Marrao (pictured above), who stumbled upon something truly special in the remote mountain village of San Pedro de Olleros in Bierzo, in cool-climate north-west Spain.
Order by midday on Thursday 17th April 
Reaching San Pedro de Olleros takes a bit of effort. It’s a twisty, narrow drive up from Cacabelos, with no vineyards in sight on the way. Here, Silvia has revived 4.5 hectares of long-forgotten old bush vines, high up at over 750 metres above sea level. The vines are so old that no one really knows their age. As the locals put it, 'they were planted by my grandma’. The vineyards often sit above the clouds, untouched by humidity, though Silvia has other challenges, like fending off roe deer and wild boar who have developed a taste for her grapes.
The altitude and Atlantic influence bring an incredible freshness to these wines, while the sunny mountain summers give them vibrant fruit, striking acidity and haunting perfume. Since launching in 2016, production has remained tiny – just 6,000 bottles – and Banzao is still very much under the radar, though gaining quiet recognition in Spain. These are mencías with energy and elegance, offering a true sense of place.
The name Banzao refers to a small traditional dam, once built from wood and stone to gently raise river levels and divert water for farming, structures designed to be washed away by autumn rains and rebuilt each year. It’s a fitting symbol for Silvia’s work: rooted in nature, shaped by the seasons, and renewed with every vintage.
I’m thrilled to offer members this rare chance to discover Silvia’s extraordinary mountain wines, vibrant, pure and full of life. This is exactly the kind of story, and wine, that deserves a place in your cellar. Don’t miss out.
