Balado

Zárate Balado Albariño is a characterful terroir driven wine from the prestigious sub region of Val do Salnés, widely regarded as the qualitative heart of Rías Baixas. The wine comes from two small, south facing parcels in Sisán Ribadumia, enclosed by granite walls and planted with 60 year old Albariño vines on poor, shallow xabre soils. This unique setting, combined with the Atlantic climate of Val do Salnés, gives Balado its depth, structure and ageing potential.

Xabre is a granitic soil formed through the slow weathering of granite into a dry, crumbly sand. Poor and well draining, it naturally limits vine vigour and contributes to wines of elegance, precision and a clear mineral expression.

In the glass, the wine appears bright and concentrated. The nose is intense and complex, offering ripe white fruit alongside pronounced mineral tension. On the palate, Balado is broad and creamy in texture, with a marked richness beautifully balanced by fresh, natural acidity. The finish is long, layered and elegant, clearly expressing its sense of place.

The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully selected in the vineyard. After destemming, a long and gentle pressing follows. Fermentation takes place spontaneously in stainless steel tanks. The wine then ages for three months on the gross lees, followed by six months at low temperature on the fine lees, without bâtonnage and without malolactic fermentation. This method gives the wine its full texture and aromatic complexity.

Serve this Albariño ideally at 10–12 °C. It pairs beautifully with gastronomic fish dishes, shellfish and refined preparations where texture and freshness are key.

Zárate Balado Albariño is a benchmark wine from Val do Salnés and one of the estate’s finest cuvées, ideal for lovers of complex, gastronomic white wines with clear ageing potential and the ability to evolve beautifully in the cellar.