2021 was a cooler vintage in Rías Baixas, that Alberto andSilvia described as strange: maturation was difficult,harvest was early, and there were some mildew struggleswith an attack on the vines’ leaves. Alcohol levels are lower than average and acidity levels higher. Overall,despite some difficulties, Alberto and Silvia were happywith the results.

Alberto Nanclares and Silvia Prieto make transparent,Atlantic-influenced wines, mainly with Albariño from oldvines around the village of Cambados. Employing organicfarming practices and a restrained hand in the cellar, thepair have managed something very rare: the refinement ofAlbariño into angular, age-worthy wines that express thefascinating terruños of Cambados and Rías Baixas. Albertoand Silvia currently own 5 hectares of Albariño in the Valdo Salnés, all trained in the traditional Pergola style anddivided into 12 small parcels in the parroquias of Castrelo(South Cambados), Vilariño (North Cambados) andPadrenda (North Meaño). The essence of their approach isreverence for the vineyard, from organic farming tofermentation by native yeasts. To express the edginess ofthe naturally high in acidity Albariño grape, he eschewsadding potassium, which is what many in Rías Baixas useto de-acidify and soften their wines. Malolactic fermen-tation rarely occurs, and the wines spend a good amountof time (often a year or more) on their lees before beingbottled without clarification or filtration.