Zárate, Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain

Who - Eulogio Pomares, Zarate
Where - Rias Baixas, Galicia, Spain
What - White Wine - Albariño
When - 2025
How - Organic / Biodynamic principles, fermentation with native yeasts in stainless steel, three months ageing in tank on fine lees without battonage, vegan

Eulogio Pomares is the grandson of Ernesto Zárate who, back in the 1920s, was one of the few wine growers who promoted and defended the Albariño grape variety which at the time was threatened with being replaced by higher yielding, more disease resistant varieties. Fast forward 100 years and Albariño is almost certainly Galicia's most famous grape but few do it as well as Eulogio. 

Eulogio studied in Bordeaux and Germany investigating parallels between Albariño and Riesling, his knowledge of the Albariño grape is second to none. Since he took over management of his family vineyards in 2000 in the Val do Salnes (Romans harvested salt in the region), he has focused on improving them. He started to work organically, abandoning mineral fertilisers. Instead he uses shells from the surrounding coastline (as in the photo) which provide the calcium and magnesium the vines need, and don’t get from the acidic, granitic, soils. He also uses local seaweed as compost. In the cellar he is low intervention and his wines are characterised by their Atlantic freshness and age-worthiness.