Bodegas Castro Martin owns 11 hectares of vineyards all located in the most northerly sub zone of the Val do Salnes. Each of our vineyard sites imparts its own character to our wine and are located within 5km of the bodega itself. The individual sites are known as Pazo de Barrantes (5 hectares), Iglesario de Castrelo (4 hectares) Finca de Cunchidos (1 hectare) and Finca de Caeiro (1 hectare).
At the very heart of the Salnes Valley they enjoy the best possible geographic sites, with sandy soils, rich in minerals, spread over a base of granite and quartz – ideally suited to the Albariño grape variety. Wines from Salnes are considered by many to be the best of the D.O. as the cool climate, heavily influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, yield grapes that add a zesty, crisp acidity, giving Albariño its distinctive vivacity and fresh, clean aromatics.
We do not actively fertilise our vineyards, but rather make a detailed analysis of the soil every 2 or 3 years and reduce the natural acidity by adding calcium, potassium & magnesium salts. We use the minimum number of chemical treatments, and only the most environmentally friendly that we can find. For example, pheromones and biological “traps” are used for insect control – Bordeaux mixture for odium and mildew, but regrettably our moist climate sometimes obliges us to use (the absolute minimum of) anti-botrytis treatments.
Like many other producers in the region we are not entirely self-sufficient in our grape supply and therefore production is supplemented by the purchase of grapes. All grape suppliers are carefully selected, and we have worked with the vast majority for many years – all are located in the Salnes Valley.
Not only do we strictly control the selection of the grapes that we use from these suppliers, but also, in many instances, we manage and advise them in the growing of their crop. Quite naturally we pay our growers according to the quality of grapes that they produce. This is done on a sliding scale determined by the potential alcohol (sugar content), pH, acidity and general sanitary state of their harvest.
The tiny, fragmented vineyard sites, purchase of grapes and labour intense production mean that Albariño is never likely to be a cheap wine, which gives us an additional incentive to produce the best possible quality, thereby guaranteeing a wine that can still be regarded as good value for money.
In recent years new plantings of Albariño have popped up around the world, in countries such as Australia and the USA, for example. However, when taking into account our unique soil types, the influence of our Atlantic Maritime climate and the experience gained over generations, it is highly likely that the Albariño of Rías Baixas will always retain its own distinctive style.