David wears the latest Zidane head protector!

Ask any decent vigneron, in any country around our great world of wine, and every single one will tell you that quality begins in the vineyard. They will also probably tell you that they don’t spray, or at the very least, they only spray when absolutely necessary. Well, I’m afraid to admit that the same applies here in Galicia, where the warmth and humidity of our ‘Atlantic Maritime’ climate obliges to intervene on occasions.

Young Albariño fruit in our El Pazo vineyard

I’m afraid that some ugly rumours have been circulating relating to the gap between recent posts and the start of the World Cup football. I have to reasssure you that this is, of course, purely co-incidental!

However, I confess that between matches I have been asked by some customers about the progress of the 2006 vintage, and when I answer that everything is going well, I am always afraid that I will be tempting fate. However, despite the early summer being a little cooler than 2005, we still appear to be on track for a very healthy and generous harvest.

At this moment our team are in the vineyards thinning the canopy to optimise the amount of sun that penetrates through to the fruit. This is actually a careful balancing act, as, believe it or not, grapes can actually suffer from sunburn if they are over-exposed. Perhaps a light spraying of Ambre Solaire factor 15 might be the answer?

Seriously though, despite my recent silence, there are actually a number of new and exciting happenings in the pipeline. As soon as they come to fruition you will be the first to know…..

Weather from the good old BBC

I often have to remind myself that we are, in fact, an agricultural business, and that like most other “farmers” we have to keep one eye fixed firmly on the weather. As we all know forecasts can be notoriously unreliable, especially in our corner of Spain (where we are often skirted by weather systems scurrying across the Atlantic on their way to soak the shores of the UK).

As previously mentioned, we have already experienced our fair quota of rain this Spring, and the month of May, until now, has been largely cool and changeable. Not the best weather for the growing vines, and indeed we have already been obliged (reluctantly) to spray against mildew.

Yesterday, on my daily visit to the BBC weather site I spotted something quite unusual – a fairly dramatic change anticipated over the coming days. Yesterday for example, the daytime temperature was a mere 17°C, today it has risen to about 25°C, tomorrow is forecast to be 33°C, Saturday 35°C and Sunday 37°C (albeit that this has since been revised down to a mere 35°C!). So, within the space of 5 days the temperature is expected to double!

To be honest a long dry spell will be more than welcome, especially in view of the flowering, anticipated during the coming weeks………

Time for a chilled Albariño and the factor 15!

Angela – As seen in Cocina y Vino – Venezuela

Far be it from me to make fun of my wife by posting a funny picture on the Internet, but here goes…….

Joking apart, Venezuela is one of our best export markets (which might have something to do with Angela being born there). Our partner there is one of the very best importers, and they do a great job promoting our Albariño.

Naturally, we get some excellent press for Casal Caeiro, the latest being a six page article in one of Venezuela’s top food and wine magazines – Cocina y Vino, about Angela, the bodega and our wine. My Spanish is by no means perfect, but Angela assures me that it is one of the best articles she has ever read about us. For me, I just like the picture!

Another wine guide, another accolade……

If I´m honest I have to admit that our Casal Caeiro Vendimia Seleccionada Barrica is a wine that I often forget to promote – I put this down to the fact that I have never been a great aficionado of oak, and more especially in white wines. I´m an unoaked Chablis man…….

Having said that, when I taste it, I am always pleasantly surprised by our Barrica. Angela and I have worked very hard to produce a wine that is well balanced – the natural fruit of the Albariño being complimented by a hint of oak, and ensuring that the subtlety of this delicate grape is not overpowered.

In addition, we have also invested in some top quality oak to further enhance and refine the finished product. After visiting Bordeaux for a comparative tasting with the renowned barrel producers Seguin Moreau, we finally selected their fine grain Allier oak, with a medium toast.

Our Barrica wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks, and only then is aged for an average of 5-6 months in 225 litre barrels (one third of the barrels are replaced each year). During the ageing period we taste regularly to chose the optimum moment to finally bottle the wine.

This year our efforts have been recognised by the Guia Campsa 2006, with our 2003 Barrica being awarded 90 points – don´t just take their word for it – you should buy some and have a taste for yourself!

Along side this in Campsa comes our (unoaked) Castro Martin 2004 which also emerges with 90 points. This does not mean to say that our two other wines are in any way inferior, it is simply that they were not reviewed in this year´s guide.

Bud break – 27th March

First leaves appear – 10th April

With pruning out of the way the vines are starting to show first signs of life, and it won’t be too long before the rather barren, sad looking vineyards are transformed into the lush green colours of summer. Indeed, progress at the start of the growing cycle is quite dramatic, and within two weeks the first small leaves are beginning to appear.

Avian’s striking new presentation

After months of deliberation, our new Avian label finally makes it’s debut on both the Belgium and Spanish markets. As with it’s predecessor, we have made a concious decision to continue the theme of original, eye catching design – a brand that stands out from the crowd, not only in style, but also in quality.

This quality claim is supported by the continued success of Avian in Spain’s Guia Gourmets 2006. You may recall that it was in the top ten of the best young white wines of Spain, and also third overall in value for money.

Pergolas make pruning a back breaking chore

I mentioned in my previous post that pruning has just finished for the year – as you can tell from the picture this comes as welcome news to those working the long hours at full stretch. The only upside of this “labour of love” is that most of the work this winter was conducted under blue skies, albeit a little chilly. The nights of light frost that we experienced in January and February were not only good for keeping the sap down, but also for killing off unfriendly bugs in the vineyard.

So far, March in Galcia has been quite wet, which after two dry winters has come as some relief, and should help to restore the depleted water table a little.

Finally, the new Avian label has arrived and we will be busy preparing the first order for our distributor in Madrid during the next day or so. Photos of the finished bottle to follow……

Angela at Alimentaria

In the weeks leading up to Alimentaria we were successful in adding Germany to our list of exporting countries (not an easy market to penetrate owing to their own white wine production). We also strengthened our position in the U.S., by adding to our importer network across the Altlantic.

Alimentaria in Barcelona, was a typically exhausting wine fair week – long days on the feet, and too many late nights – artificial sleeping potions were not required! Our efforts were well rewarded however, with interest being shown from not only some interesting European markets, but also from one or two much further afield. Not wishing to count the proverbial chickens, we will post more information about these new contacts as and when the first wine has been shipped!

Back at base in Galicia, pruning work in the vineyards is almost complete, and Spring officially starts today. Happily it is also the time of year to start stocking up with Albariño, and we have been quite busy preparing orders for our customers. May this serve as a reminder – If you haven’t placed your new orders yet, then now is the time!

February has continued where January left off with yet more accolades in the International Press.

In the Annual Vancouver Wine Awards Bodega Castro Martin was a winner in the category of medium white wines, and therefore qualifies as one of British Columbia’s top 100 wines. Described as “wild, leesy, highly aromatic and insanely delicious with seafood” (I think this is the first time I have heard our wine described as “wild” – but so long as we keep winning, who cares?!…..

Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet the Australian Financial Review quite liked our Castro Martin too…. Really deep and fragrant; ripe, grilled peach smelling, with lovely fragrant lychee floral smells. Quite rich and viscous on the tongue with ripe stone fruit, but tingly with mouth-watering acidity. Good length and floral mouth aromas too. Quite delicious.

March brings us another exhausting week at Alimentaria…. see our next report for the full lowdown (and photos)