foodwineclick

A Natural Addition to World Wine Travel’s Visit to Galicia
Our World Wine Travel group is virtually visiting the Galicia region in Spain this month, my post (with links to all the other posts) can be seen here. As we virtually travel around Spain, I’ve been searching out low intervention, organic, biodynamic and natural wines from the regions we visit. Sometimes, I make them my main post and sometimes, a side post. In Galicia, I’m taking a little side trip to a couple of low intervention wineries. The coastal influence in the region brings lots of moisture year-round, and organic farming is extremely difficult. Both these producers are making efforts farm in the most sustainable way possible, given the challenges in their climate.

Bodegas Albamar
With the maritime climate in Rias Baixas, organic farming is virtually impossible due to the rain and humidity. Xurxo Alba farms and makes sure the other farmers he sources from farm as naturally as possible, as much as the region permits. In the cellar, he ferments his wines with native yeasts and does not fine his wines. His Albariño ages on the lees for 6 months to soften the texture of the wine.

Bodegas Albamar Albariño “Litrona” Rias Baixas D.O. 2019 1 liter bottle ($32 online at Henry and Son) 13%abv
Eye: Pale lemon
Nose: Medium intensity aromas of white blossom, lemons, lemon pith, dried apricot, wet seashells, subtle hay.
Mouth: Dry, high acidity, medium body with a balance between tart and creamy, medium alcohol, medium intensity flavors, medium plus finish. Flavors of white blossom, lemons, lemon pith, dried apricot, wet seashells, subtle hay.
Observations: A totally enjoyable refreshing Albariño wine. Made in a low intervention style, but still well within the bounds of what you would expect from the region, all the way to having the Rias Baixas D.O. label.

Adegas Guímaro
Ribeira Sacra is inland from Rias Baixas, on the slope leading up to the Meseta high plain covering much of the center of Spain. There is still some maritime influence, but mountainous slopes leading up to higher altitude allow black grapes to ripen, here that’s the Mencia grape. Pedro Rodriguez at Adegas Guimaro farms using organic methods, and hand harvests, required on the steep terraced slopes. In the winery, fermentations are carried out with native yeasts, and the wines rest on the lees for 6 months. The wines are fined with egg whites and cold stabilized but not filtered, leading to a fresh wine ready for immediate drinking.

Pedro Rodriguez “Guímaro” Ribeira Sacra D.O. ($23 online at Henry and Son) 13%abv
Eye: medium ruby
Nose: Medium intensity aromas of ripe raspberries, red cherries, redcurrants, slate, wet tobacco.
Mouth: Dry, high acidity, medium sandy tannins, medium body, medium alcohol, medium plus flavor intensity, medium plus finish. Flavors follow the nose with ripe red raspberries, red cherries, slate and tobacco.
Observations: A delicious wine made for immediate enjoyment, and perfect to pair with a variety of foods.