The name Albamar comes from “alba del mar,” meaning “close to the sea,” a reference to this estate’s location in the coastal town of Cambados—the hub of the celebrated O Salnés sub-region of the Rías Baixas DO. It’s here that whites from the Albariño variety feel the most profound influence from the Atlantic Ocean. One of Albamar’s prized vineyards, Finca O Pereiro, sits just 50 meters from the ocean, right where the Umía River spills into the Atlantic. This is “coastal” white wine with a capital “C.”

All grapes are harvested by hand, with whole grape clusters “direct pressed” to tank. There are two fermentations (both spontaneous, with indigenous yeasts) in stainless steel and neutral oak, but malolactic fermentation is blocked. This helps to preserve the freshness and acidity of the finished wine, imparting no flavors of oak. Aging is for six months in stainless steel sur lie (“on the lees”) and the wine is bottled after a slight filtration and a minimal sulfur addition.

In the glass, it’s pale straw-gold with greenish highlights at the rim, with aromas of salted lemon, white peach, green mango, green herbs, crushed rocks, sea salt, fresh cream, and chamomile tea. Medium-bodied and crisp, with an oyster shell note reminiscent of Chablis—pair with grilled octopus or freshly shucked oysters!