Galicia Wine

Granbazán Albariño Etiqueta Ámbar — Rías Baixas, Galicia 2024

Granbazán is one of the founding estates of modern Rías Baixas, pioneering the region's reputation for world-class Albariño since the late 1980s. The Etiqueta Ámbar — the Amber Label — is their most celebrated wine, famously served by the glass at El Bulli for many years and the wine that put Granbazán on the international map in the 1990s. Sourced from a blend of estate fruit and grapes from long-established family growers in the Salnés Valley, it receives more active bâtonnage and extended lees aging than most Albariños, adding a richness and textural depth that sets it apart from the category. Winemaker Diego Ríos, who trained in the Mosel Valley working with Riesling, brings a precision and mineral focus that is unmistakably his own.

The nose is classic and inviting: ripe peach, citrus, and white blossom with a signature salty, briny minerality that speaks directly to the Atlantic coast. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and sappy with beautiful lees-derived texture, layered fruit, and a long, tapering finish of saline freshness. A wine with genuine aging potential — and the structure to prove it.

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points — "The most famous of this estate's wines, served by the glass at El Bulli for many years. It has richness and length in the form of medium-bodied peach and salty brine and should do well in the bottle another 5-7 years." (Vintage 2024).

Tim Atkin 93 Points — "A classic, salty, lip-smacking Val do Salnés Albariño. Sappy, layered and refreshing, it has some texture from lees-ageing and a tapering finish. 2025–29." (Vintage 2024). 

• Producer: Granbazán, Salnés Valley, Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Rías Baixas DO (Val do Salnés)
• Varietal: 100% Albariño
• Sourcing: Estate fruit + long-established family growers, Cambados & Meaño
• Vinification: De-stemmed, cold maceration, free-run juice only; fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel; 8 months on lees with active bâtonnage
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Ripe peach, citrus, white blossom, salty brine, lees richness, long saline finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now through 2031
• Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled turbot, seafood rice, roasted artichokes, goat cheese, ceviche
• Serve: Well chilled, 45–50°F

93 points from both Jeb Dunnuck and Tim Atkin — Granbazán Ámbar is the Albariño that made Rías Baixas famous, and it has never been better.

Zárate Albaríno Val do Salnés — Rías Baixas 2025

Zárate is the benchmark producer of Val do Salnés — the cradle of Albaríno and the most celebrated sub-zone of Rías Baixas. The estate farms 7 hectares across 11 vineyards surrounding the villages of Sisán and Padrenda, with vines averaging 35 years of age planted on granite soils some 50 meters above sea level. Three of those vineyards are planted with ungrafted pre-Phylloxera vines — a rarity anywhere in the world. Since 1994, all plots have been farmed without plowing, with natural ground cover and zero herbicides; since 2006, the estate has held certification for controlled, integrated production. The harvest is purely manual, with grape selection on the vine, gentle whole-bunch pressing, and spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel — the wine then rests on its lees for three months to build complexity before bottling. The result is Albaríno as it was meant to be.

Beautiful pale straw yellow in the glass. The nose is layered and immediate: tropical fruit, lemon zest, white peach, and the unmistakable sea-breeze salinity that defines Val do Salnés. On the palate, it is fresh, balanced, and elegant — vibrant natural acidity framing fine, fruity notes on a mineral, granite-driven background. The finish is clean, saline, and long. This is the Atlantic in a glass.

“Beautiful hues of pale straw yellow. Layered tropical and citrus fruit with unmistakable sea breeze salinity that defines Albarínos from the Salnés Region.” — Oscar Garcia, Lead Wine Sommelier, 67Wine

• Producer: Zárate, Val do Salnés, Rías Baixas, Spain
• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: Rías Baixas DO — Val do Salnés
• Varietal: 100% Albaríno
• Farming: Certified integrated production, no herbicides, natural ground cover since 1994
• Vines: 35-year average age, granite soils; includes pre-Phylloxera ungrafted parcels
• Vinification: Manual harvest, gentle pressing, spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel, 3 months on lees
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Tropical fruit, lemon zest, white peach, sea-breeze salinity, granite minerality, vibrant acidity
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or cellar 3–5 years
• Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled seafood, octopus, ceviche, light fish dishes, goat cheese

The benchmark Albaríno from the birthplace of the grape — Zárate is Val do Salnés in its purest form.

Producer Notes

Pazo de La Cuesta is a boutique estate in Ribeira Sacra, one of Spain’s most dramatic and exciting wine regions — where steep, terraced vineyards plunge toward the Sil River in Galicia. The Batanero is made from Brancellao, a rare indigenous red grape variety that thrives in the region’s granite soils and cool Atlantic climate. Elegant red with purple nuances and a medium-high depth. Deep nose of cherry, blackcurrant, stone fruits, compotes, and sweet toasted wood. Very direct attack on the palate where freshness and the passage of time prevail. Aromatic nuances emerge at retronasal, calling for another sip to recall them.

Food Pairings

• Roasted lamb or slow-braised pork
• Pulpo a la gallega (Galician octopus)
• Aged Tetilla or Arzúa-Ulloa cheese
• Mushroom dishes or charcuterie

Exceptional Rías Baixas White Wine

Terras Gauda O Rosal 2023 is a stunning expression of Spain's renowned Rías Baixas region, crafted from a harmonious blend of Albariño, Caiño Blanco, and Loureiro grapes. This full-bodied white wine showcases the unique terroir of O Rosal, where diverse microclimates and Atlantic-influenced soils create ideal conditions for producing vibrant, aromatic wines. Each bottle captures the essence of Galician winemaking tradition, delivering complexity and elegance in every sip.

Primary Varietals - Albariño with some Caíño Blanco, Loureiro

Expert Acclaim & Critical Reviews - Vintage 2023

Vinous - 90 Points: "The 2023 Terras Gauda presents green aromas of bay leaf, mint and herbs with notes of white fruit, pear and orange blossom. Vibrant and broad on the palate with malic acidity and a direct herbal finish, this wine delivers character and balance."

Wine Spectator - 88 Points: "A bright, light-bodied white, with a lightly fleshy and appealing profile of pineapple, blood orange, ginger biscuit and white blossom notes."

Tasting Profile & Sensory Experience

This lively wine greets you with aromatic notes of ripe peaches, tangerines, and orange peel, complemented by delicate floral undertones and subtle herbal accents. On the palate, discover a full-bodied yet refreshing character with soft acidity and vibrant fruit flavors. Hints of mint, white blossom, and a gentle creaminess create a well-rounded, youthful mouthfeel that culminates in a fresh, lingering finish. The wine's complexity and balance make it both sophisticated and wonderfully approachable.

Perfect Food Pairings

Terras Gauda O Rosal's versatility shines at the table. The estate recommends pairing it with fresh seafood like grilled octopus, shrimp, or oysters for a classic Galician experience. It also complements cream-based dishes, rich sauces, Asian cuisine, and chicken with rice preparations. Try it with ceviche, seafood paella, Thai curry, creamy pasta, or grilled white fish for exceptional pairings that highlight the wine's vibrant acidity and fruit-forward character.

Heritage of Rías Baixas

Terras Gauda represents generations of winemaking excellence in Rías Baixas, one of Spain's most celebrated white wine regions. The estate's commitment to quality, sustainability, and eco-friendly practices ensures that each vintage honors the unique landscape and cultural heritage of Galicia. By choosing Terras Gauda O Rosal, you're not only enjoying an exceptional wine but also supporting local vintners dedicated to preserving this remarkable terroir for future generations.

Bodegas Albamar Albariño — Rías Baixas, Galicia 2024

Bodegas Albamar is one of the most exciting estates in Rías Baixas, farming a wide range of parcels in and around Castrelo in the Salné s Valley — the heart of Galicia's Atlantic wine country. Their flagship Albariño is hand-harvested from sandy, granite-based soils that produce wines of exceptional aromatic precision and mineral tension. Spontaneously fermented and raised primarily in tank with a small percentage of neutral oak foudre, with no malolactic fermentation, it is a wine of purity, focus, and genuine terroir expression.

The nose is clean and precise: lemon zest, a dusting of sea salt, flint, green apple, and yellow kiwi — the unmistakable signature of Atlantic Galicia. On the palate, it is serious and austere beyond the varietal notes, with excellent ripeness, beautifully integrated acidity, and a dry, chalky finish that lingers with mineral elegance. The 2024 vintage is defined by balance — and Albamar delivers it in spades.

Wine Advocate 93 Points — "Clean and precise, serious and austere beyond the varietal notes, with good ripeness and very good balance and a dry, chalky finish. I think 2024's main characteristic is balance." (Vintage 2024). 

• Producer: Bodegas Albamar, Castrelo (Cambados), Salné s Valley, Galicia, Spain
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Rías Baixas DO (Val do Salné s)
• Varietal: 100% Albariño
• Harvest: Hand-harvested from sandy, granite-based parcels
• Vinification: Spontaneous fermentation, tank + neutral oak foudre, no malolactic
• ABV: 13%
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lemon zest, sea salt, flint, green apple, yellow kiwi, dry chalky finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now through 2028
• Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled fish, roasted artichokes, sheep cheese, seafood rice, ceviche
• Serve: Well chilled, 45–50°F

93 points from Wine Advocate — Albamar Albariño is Atlantic Galicia at its most precise: mineral, saline, and impossible to put down.

A 94-Point Ethereal Red from the Ancient Vineyards of Galicia

Cume do Avia is one of Ribeiro’s most exciting producers, farming indigenous varieties in the rugged, granite-soiled hills of Galicia. Their 2022 Colleita Nº10 Tinto is a rare and personal wine — only 8,000 bottles produced — built from the ancient Caíño and Sousón grapes that have defined this corner of northwestern Spain for centuries. Ethereal, elegant, and unmistakably Galician.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

• The Wine Advocate — 94 pts: “Pale and bright ruby-colored, more ethereal and elegant with a more perfumed nose than the 2021 vintage. Quite complete and elegant, lighter, with a touch of volatility that lifts it up. Sharp and balanced — tasty, almost salty, a red for food.”

Winemaker Notes

Cume do Avia Colleita Tinto Ribeiro 2022 Colleita No 10 750ml

The wines etched into memory don’t always come with obscene prices or universally acknowledged pedigrees. They are often uniquely personal — evoking something deeper, something rooted in place. This is that wine: a pale, perfumed, food-driven red from one of Spain’s most distinctive and undersung appellations.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Blend: Caíño, Sousón
• Appellation: Ribeiro, Galicia, Spain
• Producer: Cume do Avia
• Vintage: 2022
• Production: ~8,000 bottles
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

A natural food wine — excellent with grilled fish, seafood, roasted chicken, Galician octopus, and light charcuterie.

Winemaker Description 

The wine is fresh and lively, laden with minerals, salinity with hints of citrus and perfumed aromatics.

Serea, meaning “Mermaid” in Gallego, is made exclusively for David Bowler Wine. 100% hand-harvested Albariño from ten- to fifteenyear-old organic vines near the coast. Fermented and aged in stainless steel for three months.

Winemaker Description 

One of the few 100% Brancellao wines from Ribeira Sacra, reminiscent of a wine from Burgundy, aged for six months in new French oak barrels, with the freshness and expressiveness of a little known variety with huge potential and great distinction.

Exceptional selection of the Brancellao grape from Pazo de La Cuesta’s historic vineyard. Manual harvesting followed by destemming and gravity-flow to the fermentation tanks. First, alcoholic fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature of 16-18oC, followed by malolactic fermentation, both in stainless steel tanks. First aged on its lees and later aged for six months in 300- and 500-litre French and Central European oak barrels.

TASTING NOTES

Clean and bright with a surprising colour. Very intense nose with complex red fruit, spices, and the characteristic coffee and cocoa notes of the terroir. This wine has a pleasant texture and is bold and complex in the mouth, well structured and intense on the palate and extremely fresh, which makes it appealing at any time of year.

Winemaker Description 

This small-production Albarino comes from a mix of young and very old vines, made to be a pure, straight-to-the-point take on the bracing variety! The citrus blossom top notes, and core fruit character of apple & nectarine, come with a wash of powerful, saline-like acidity into the well-balanced finish, making for a mouthwateringly delicious experience.

Pedro’s Albariño collection is from the Salnés Valley hamlet, Meaño. If I were to draw a comparison to Pedro’s wines and our other growers in Rías Baixas, I’d say they’re more powerful than those of Manuel Moldes and, perhaps of equal power to Xesteiriña, but are more contained and classically styled than the latter. Pedro’s Albariños have broad shoulders, a compact core and megathrust. This may be partly due to the older average vine age of his many parcels, and, in some cases, deeper topsoil. Moldes’ cru Albariños are on schist, with his Afelio on the mostly granite. Xesteiriña harvests from a single plot of extremely hard metamorphic rock with almost no topsoil. The bedrock is somewhere between medium- to high-grade metamorphic rock: some looks like gneiss while others look like schist. Xesteiriña’s rock type is probably the rarest of all in Salnés with vineyards planted.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Luis Guitierez of The Wine Advocate writes 93+ Points | They haven't produced this wine since 2019, and there are substantial changes. There's no Treixadura in the 2022 Viño Branco Dos Canotos; they didn't do any skin contact; and it didn't go through malolactic, because it has a low pH (3.0) and high acidity. It matured in chestnut cask with full less until bottling in May 2023, quite early. The wine is dominated by the Albariño (around 40%, the rest, Lado, Caíño Branco and Loureira) in the aromatics, floral and herbal. It has around 11.7% alcohol, a very tasty and vibrant palate with pungent flavors, and very good persistence and length. There are only 910 bottles.

Winemaker Description 

Lovely lemon and peach aromas with hints of honeysuckle and white pepper, super fresh, light-bodied, airy, silky on the palate.

Made by the talented winemaker José Luis Mateo, Candea Blanco is a blend of Treixadura, Doña Blanca, and Verdello. This is a delightful white wine from Galicia that bursts with aromas of white peaches, citrus fruit, and cantaloupe. On the palate, the wine is fresh and lively with notes of green apples, lime, and white blossom flowers. The finish is dry and very precise.

- Oscar Garcia Moncada, 67 Wine Buyer

The As Abeleiras “Viño branco de parcela” (Albariño) is released a year after the entry-level Albariño and comes from a single parcela planted in 1993 by a very young Pedro and his father. It sits at 100 meters altitude, also on granite soil. While the 2019 version was raised in steel, this year spent time in old French oak barrels. 

While the other two Albariños have a broad band of expressions and roundness due to the diversity of the many vineyard parcels in each wine, this single vineyard’s uniqueness offers a more vertical than horizontal experience. While the other two would be great for a bigger party of people because they jump into the mosh pit and start knocking people out on the first swing, As Abeleiras is initially more snug and better suited for a two-person tango. 

While the others are wonderful in their way, this is the thinker, the wine to observe and admire for its singularity, focused austerity, and tight, chalky and grippy texture. It’s a minerally beam of light. The others are mineral bombs.

Winemaker Description

The Tinto DoUmia is a traditional blend of 70% Mencía, 20% Caino, and 10% Espadeiro from the weather battered coasts of Galicia. Biodynamically farmed, fermented with native yeasts and partial whole cluster in stainless steel vats, then aged on the lees for one year.

Light and refreshing red fruits with woodsy notes that never venture in to the tart fruit category. The palate is lean yet savory, with forest floor aromas and a pure fruit expression. 

Memo Summary Notes

The Adega Pedralonga DoUmia Tinto 2022 is a fascinating departure from the white Albariños usually associated with the Rías Baixas region of Spain. Crafted by winemaker Francisco Alfonso, this red blend is a tribute to the indigenous grapes of Galicia and the "Atlantic" style of winemaking—fresh, high-acid, and deeply mineral.

Because of its high acidity and lower tannins, this wine is incredibly versatile:

    Traditional: Octopus a feira, grilled fatty fish (tuna or salmon), or roasted chicken.

    Cured Meats: It cuts beautifully through the richness of Ibérico ham or aged cheeses.

    Global: Its freshness makes it a great partner for spicy Thai dishes or earthy mushroom risotto.