6/26/25 - 

It's a mistake (and an easy one) to take good wine, and the good winemaking it comes from, for granted. Given our focus on low-intervention, small producers who farm organically and biodynamically, we're constantly surrounded by wines made in a thoughtful way. A recent tasting of Nanclares y Prieto and Envinate, kindly provided by Liz Fayad of Jose Pastor Selections,  brought me back to those early 'ah-ha' moments when I was just beginning to learn about natural wine. These wines are not just well made, not just delicious, not just thought-provoking; they are a shining example of what heights can be achieved in the vineyard. Nanclares and Envinate are undoubtedly two of our favorite producers in Galicia, a region not short of winemakers, and we're excited to be offering their wines for today's email! 

This Summer marks Alberto Nanclares and Silvia Prieto's 10-year anniversary in collaboration. Alberto began making his own wine out of his garage in Rias Baixas in 1997, and was quick to abandon the use of chemicals altogether.  Prior to teaming up with Alberto, Silvia had run a consulting company dealing specifically with winemakers employing organic practices, which brought her into contact with Alberto, a client. Further down the line, once the Bodega Nanclares project had developed a following, Silvia would join for a harvest and eventually as a partner. The project has expanded over time, and is now comprised of 5 hectares spanning a dozen or so plots throughout the Val do Salnes. Today's offer highlights our favorites from the 2023 vintage, and they reflect the many shades of Albarino. Each wine has its own style, without departing from the high-toned acid and chalky minerality the grape is so well known for.

For red wines, we wanted to keep the theme in Galicia, and couldn't turn down the opportunity to bring back another big name in the region's natural wine scene, Envinate. We recently offered a few of their wines from Tenerife, and tasting those side-by-side with their Ribeira Sacra lineup revealed such a distinction in terroir that they warranted their own focus. Friends Laura Ramos, Jose Martinez, Roberto Santana and Alfonso Torrente have a knack for capturing the essence of these distinct vineyard sites, which they achieve through regionally specific, old-school farming and winemaking practices. Limited use of sulfur, and a low-intervention approach in general, make every vintage of Envinate different. The 2023 Lousas, which is almost entirely made of Mencia from a combination of old parcels, has the more quintessential Spanish profile with its rustic tannic structure and continuous layers of earthiness and well-ripened fruit. The Misturado is a field-blend of red and white grapes from a single parcel of centenarian vines. Incredibly fresh and delicate, it’s hard to imagine a more appropriate wine for Summer. 

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Galicia is notoriously difficult for organic farming. With such significant humidity, vines are susceptible to some of the biggest headaches that winemakers can encounter, namely mildew, which can severely deplete production, and in some cases, really ruin a vintage. Rejecting the use of chemicals in the vineyard, and limiting the use of sulfur, presents a risk most winemakers aren't keen on taking. Envinate and Nanclares y Prieto don't shy away, nor do they make natural wine for natural wine's sake, they make benchmark expressions of internationally beloved terroir. Quantities are limited, so don't miss out!

-Nicolas Douglas

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