How ‘precision viticulture’ defines Mar de Frades Albariño

Mar de Frades encapsulates Albariño’s complexity and why it should stand among the world’s great white wines.

The importance of the Albariño grape has long been heralded. However, Mar de Frades winemaker Paula Fandiño also shows forward-thinking within the DO Rías Baixas and within the wider world of Albariño.

Fandiño says: “Albariño can be sophisticated, complex and fully capable of standing alongside the great white varieties of the world.”

She points out that the approach to Mar de Frades’ single-site fincas project is centred on the search for the individual identity of each terroir: “We are working with precision viticulture to understand what makes every plot unique.”

Fandiño also emphasises that the producer’s Finca Valiñas, Finca Monteveiga and Finca Ribadulla wines “are all different expressions of the same variety”. Fandiño’s goal is to see the purest and most honest expression of the soil, altitude, climate and maritime influence that shape these specific sites within the landscapes of Galicia.

She highlights the incredible diversity of Rías Baixas, and is looking to understand the different layers of each soil and the microclimates within this landscape. Fandiño explains: “By working across different landscapes, from the Val do Salnés to the Ribeira do Ulla, we demonstrate that Albariño can be vibrant and energetic, but also profound, delicate and capable of ageing beautifully.”