Eulogio Pomares is the quiet driving force of Val do Salnés, best known for elevating Albariño at the historic Zárate estate and for his eponymous side projects across Galicia. Growing up among pergola-trained vines on granitic sands, he returned in the early 2000s to pursue a clear vision: farm sensitively, pick for tension, and let place speak. Vineyard work is largely organic, yields are modest, and old parcels are bottled separately—most notably El Palomar and Tras da Viña—to showcase subtle differences in aspect and soil.

In the cellar he favours spontaneous fermentations, long lees ageing and neutral vessels—foudres, older barrels and occasionally amphora—avoiding flashy oak in favour of texture and precision. Alongside benchmark Albariño, he has revived local reds such as Caíño and Espadeiro, crafting pale, savoury Atlantic styles with lift and fine tannins.

Pomares’s wines are celebrated for saline clarity: citrus, stone fruit and white flowers over a cool, mineral spine, finishing long and mouth-watering. Thoughtful, exacting and quietly restless, he has become a reference point for Rías Baixas, proving that elegance and depth can be drawn from the coast’s wind-washed vineyards without artifice.

Rías Baixas, located in Galicia in Spain’s cool, rainy northwest, is renowned for producing some of the country’s most elegant white wines. The region enjoys an Atlantic maritime climate, with mild temperatures, high humidity, and abundant rainfall, moderated by coastal breezes. This cool, wet environment helps preserve acidity in the grapes, while abundant sunshine in summer ensures full ripening.

Soils vary across the five subzones, but granite-based sandy soils dominate, offering excellent drainage and imparting a distinct mineral character to the wines. Some inland areas feature alluvial or schist soils, adding subtle complexity.

The flagship grape is Albariño, prized for its aromatic intensity, vibrant acidity, and ability to express terroir. Other permitted varieties include Loureira, Treixadura, and Caiño Blanco, which are sometimes blended with Albariño to add floral, herbal, or textural nuances.

Rías Baixas wines are typically pale straw in colour, with fresh, zesty aromas of citrus, green apple, peach, and white flowers, often underscored by saline, mineral notes that reflect the ocean influence. The style ranges from crisp, youthful bottlings ideal for immediate drinking to more structured, lees-aged examples with greater depth and complexity. These wines pair beautifully with seafood, particularly the shellfish for which Galicia is famous.

Albariño is a high-quality white grape variety originating from Galicia in northwest Spain, particularly the Rías Baixas region, where it thrives in the cool, damp Atlantic climate. It is also widely grown across the border in northern Portugal, where it is known as Alvarinho and often forms the backbone of Vinho Verde wines.

Viticulturally, Albariño is a small-berried grape with thick skins, which help resist mildew and rot in humid conditions. It performs best in well-drained granite or sandy soils and typically produces low to moderate yields. The grape ripens early and retains high natural acidity, making it ideal for fresh, vibrant white wines.

Outside of the Iberian Peninsula, Albariño has gained international recognition and is now grown in the U.S. (particularly in California and Oregon), Australia, New Zealand, and Uruguay. In these New World regions, winemakers experiment with both unoaked and oaked styles, expanding the grape’s global appeal.

Albariño wines are typically aromatic and zesty, with flavours of peach, apricot, citrus, and green apple, often accompanied by saline or mineral notes. Styles range from crisp, unoaked wines perfect for seafood, to fuller-bodied examples with texture and complexity. Albariño offers freshness, elegance, and strong potential for further global growth.