You think Albarino, you think Rias Baixas, Galicia, right? Well, yes... and no. Some of the best Alvarinho vines are actually found just across the Minho River in Portugal. Marcial Dorado, a young Galician winemaker, wanted to make a fine ageworthy Albarino and saw an opportunity when he found the Dorado vineyard situated near Melgaco with its 70-year-old vines, many ungrafted. Tiny yields and very careful manual selection gave him the perfect raw material to produce the Dorado wine. Marcial also renovated the winery and adopted Burgundian techniques such as semi-malolactic fermentation and extended lees stirring. More recently Marcial and his family have purchased a stunning amphitheatre like vineyard at Seixas near the mouth of the river. The younger Alvarinho and Trajadura vines here currently produce Auratus and the long term potential is huge.

Visit their website: www.quintadofeital.com