Galician Wines to Geek Out About
Xosé Lois Sebio is making impossible to miss wines in the oldest wine-region in Galicia, DO Ribeiro. Away from fashions and conventions; his sole intention is to respect and express the terroir. He discovers vineyards that are difficult to farm producing wines with soul and personality.
Super Héroe is a Galician field-blend of 20% Ferrol, 20% Sousón, 15% Caiño Longo, 10% Bastardo & 35% of other local varieties. A feast for the senses, it is delightfully aromatic with notes of violet, black fruits, figs and plums, combined with subtle hints of black pepper and mineral tones. Elegant and expressive. Rich yet vibrant on the finish.
Sip on this with a traditional paella, Chuletón de Ternera, or with oven-made pulled-pork sliders on a brioche bun with crunchy pickled red onions and slaw. Around $50-ish/bottle.
From the first moment I tasted Bodegas Fulcro “Finca A Pedreira” Albariño I knew there was something magical about the producer. The wine has a salinity and minerality unlike other Albariños out there, a sense of razor-sharp precision.
In April of 2018 and I was lucky enough to spend a whirlwind afternoon with winemaker Manuel Moldes (aka Chicho) in his vineyards – more like small parcels – dotted throughout the hills in the subregion of Salnés, in Rías Baixas.
You could think of Chicho akin to Bill Nye Science Guy – with unending energy and curiosity about the world and the vines around him. His approach to viticulture is environmentally friendly. He farms with the health of the plant in mind and uses very minimal intervention. His winery is a small garage off the side of his house. There he uses mostly steel tanks and favors the freshness of wines that do not undergo malolactic fermentation.
While he makes a few small cuvées, I find that his “A Pedreira” Albariño is a wine that you could easily have on repeat not only in the Summer months but all year round. It’s the type of “house wine” you’ll always want to have in your fridge. If you happened to make a grilled shrimp salad with fresh corn, avocado, and red peppers, or rosemary-lemon roasted chicken this would wash it all down nicely too. Around $25/bottle.
