Bodegas Castro Martin S.L.
Spain, Ribadumia
About
The Martin Family have been producing albariño in the village of Barrantes for generations, originally for local consumption by friends, family and a few local restaurants. Domingo Martin soon realised that it was time to create a larger wine business, and in 1981 he built the current cellar of Bodegas Castro Martin, with a capacity of 300,000 litres. The bodega is one of the original founder members of the Rias Baixas denomination (created in 1988), and since its creation has always been a family-owned and managed business. Today it is run on a day-to-day basis by Domingo’s daughter Angela, who is also a biologist and qualified wine maker. The philosophy of the business is to make the best wine possible using new innovation where possible, but whilst also respecting the traditions of the denomination. The bodega is also unique in that every wine they make is aged for at least 5-6 months on the lees. This technique not only adds to the complexity of the wine, but also extends its potential for ageing. The first vintage in the current wine cellar was 1982, and therefore Bodegas Castro Martin has now produced some 30+ vintages. Located in the heart of the Salnes Valley, Castro Martin owns a total of 11 hectares of vineyards, in locations that benefit from the typical, sandy, alluvial soils on a base of granite and quartz. It is this soil, the extended ageing, added to the cooling influence of the Atlantic Ocean that gives all Castro Martin wines their distinctive, but typically fresh and zesty albariño style.
Winemaker
Angela Martin
Founded
1981