Imanol Garay

Imanol Garay’s Estate

Tasting Imanol Garay’s wines is like meeting the winemaker in person, it leaves a lasting impression! Almost a common portrait with our founder Clément Chevrier, a passionate cyclist, lover of encounters with those who make natural wine, Imanol Garay is an authentic, honest, and charming personality. Just like his wines from the Pyrenean and Basque soils. A must-try if you haven’t already!

The Story of Imanol Garay

It’s in the South West that Epi-curieux.com has found wines full of overflowing energy. Imanol Garay is not a winemaker by birth, but over the years, through the people he met, he realized this is what he wanted to become – a natural winemaker. Imanol has known the “dark side,” as he calls it, of chemical products. He first graduated in industrial chemical engineering before starting his career transition. Initially, he worked in sales for the Tonnellerie de l’Adour. It’s through this part of his life that he met key people in the natural wine world, including the great Richard Leroy. These encounters led him to a love for the Earth, for life, for clean wine, and the people who make it. Imanol Garay is from San Sebastián, but it’s in the Madiran region, in Orthez, that he settled.

The Artist Imanol Garay

He first began his independence as a winemaker by creating his business in the South West. Not wanting to choose between his homeland and where he had settled, Imanol Garay bought grapes from both the Spanish side (highland grapes from Navarra, Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh, etc.) and France. Now a friend, he also buys grapes from Jean at Domaine Pichard, a different vision of wine but with mutual respect. Imanol then decided to vinify Jean’s grapes his way, in a natural and respectful manner.
He produces his wines based on the encounters he’s had on the Pyrenean lands. But Imanol Garay didn’t stop at buying grapes; he also planted vines in the Irouléguy appellation, as well as a small plot in Orthez (Tannat and Raffiat de Moncade, a rare indigenous grape). Very connected to nature, with a deep respect for the connections he can make with it, Imanol listens to his vines, allowing them to express themselves freely. Based in Orthez, in his cellar where his creativity explodes, Imanol Garay experiments with each vintage. The ripeness of the grapes changes, the blends differ, and the aging takes place in various containers such as stainless steel tanks, clay jars, barrels, or amphorae. And in addition to pampering his vines, Imanol soothes his wines with the gentle notes of music from his piano. A cellar worth visiting!
Here are the different cuvées from Imanol Garay, selected by your favorite team at Epi-curieux.com.

Imanol Garay’s Cuvées

Imanol Garay has created a wine with overflowing energy and destabilizing aromas with the cuvée Ixilune. This blend of Raffiat de Moncade, Petit Courbu, and Petit Manseng is a great white wine from the Jurançon, a wine that deserves to be kept in the cellar.
Imanol does not forget his roots, and it is in the Spanish Basque Country that he went to find the grapes for this cuvée. Clandestinus is vinified directly there by Imanol Garay and then brought back to France for aging. Half Grenache Noire, half Graciano, this 3-week maceration is aged for 8 to 9 months in barrels before being bottled. Fruity, spicy, the perfect juice for tapas!
He continues to surprise us with this cuvée Tabularaza, made in collaboration with Matthieu Moulic. Tannat, yes, but not the Tannat you know, just 12 hours of fermentation before pressing, and 10% Sémillon added, resulting in a fluid, fruity, dangerously delicious wine!
Hegan Egin is the alliance of three winemakers: Gile, Alfredo, and Imanol, under the Bizkaiko Txakolina appellation, 30 kilometers south-west of Bilbao (Spain). A blend of Petit Courbu and Petit Manseng to create this impressive wine. A perfect combination (power, fruit, purity, etc.) for a wine to keep for years.
Bi-Xoro is Imanol Garay’s second cuvée made with Matthieu Moulic. A cuvée with a rare blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat, macerated in open barrels (3-4 weeks), aged in amphorae ... In short, another atypical cuvée! Don’t confuse it with Clandestinus, Imanol Garay has created Clandestinum! The difference? It’s all about aging, Clandestinum is aged in amphorae. Freshness guaranteed! Altelmativa is Imanol’s Pet Nat! A juice with fine bubbles and a color reminiscent of Pinot Noir, this sparkling Tannat (a very colorful grape) remains very fresh and refreshing.
A very limited edition of Imanol’s Infusion of Raffiat! Everything is said, a maceration of this rare grape carried out in amphorae, for a wonderful journey through this wine. Abiatu, Imanol Garay’s cuvée from the Madiran terroirs. Tannic from its grape variety, but not aggressive, it is a deep, elegant wine, with freshness, as Imanol knows how to do. Enchanting!
Imanol Garay is a unique personality, an artist, a creator of wines as personal as vibrant! He is connected to his vines, his lands, his grapes. A connection that can be felt through wines with a surprising energy. A must-discover, the tasting moment will be sensational.