ARGENTINA AUSTRALIA AUSTRIA

Rías Baixas (Galician for “Lower Rias” — referring to the water Pazo Torrado is made by Terra de Asorei, which is an association of eight top estuaries along the coastline) is growers who have banded together to produce the wine ‘Pazo Torrado’. With a Spanish Denominación de Ori- gen (DO) for wines located in the their 173 acres of prime Albariño vineyards and combined experience and province of Pontevedra facing technological abilities, they are considered a force in the Galician wine industry. the Atlantic Ocean in the south- ern part of the autonomous com- munity of Galicia, Spain which About Pazo Torrado borders the Portuguese coast. Visitors to “Green Spain” might ‘Pazo’ is a name for a ‘manor house’ in Galician. Pazo Torrado is a traditional CHILE mistake the area for Ireland be- manor house in the region. It was constructed in the second half of the 18th cause of its lush terrain and cool, damp climate. Like the rest of century, converted into the Galician “Museum of the Wine Routes”, still

Spain, however, the region also maintains the components integrated in construction at its origin, such as the FRANCE GERMANY ITALY NEW ZEALAND PORTUGAL receives ample sunshine — over 2,200 hours per year. It is re- garden, the dovecote, the barn, the “patín” (exterior stairway) and the former nowned for its white wines made “lareira” (traditional Galician kitchen). from the Albariño grape variety. Rías Baixas acquired its official status as a Denominación de Ori- Region gen (DO) in 1988. The DO is di- vided into five sub-zones, four Rias Baixas Designation of Origin – The Salnés Valley of them in the province of Ponte- vedra and one in the south of the province of A Coruña. The Val do Vineyard Info Salnés region is located on the The vineyards, averaging 15 years old, are located in the Salnés Valley, in the lower reaches of the river Umia and centred around the town Rias Baixas region, one of the main tourist areas of Galicia, with a privileged of Cambados, very close to the climate of Atlantic influence with mild temperatures and abundance rainfall cool coastline. The landscape is of low undulating hills and the without excesses. The Salnés Valley is located on the left bank of the estu- vineyards are planted both on ary of Arousa and its name comes from the saltworks exploited in the Mid- the slopes and on the flat val- ley floors. The soil is generally dle Ages, which had a high economic interest for the salted fish. The city of rocky and alluvial over granite Cambados, capital of Albariño is the dynamic center of the region and it is bedrock. The climate is Atlantic, with wet winters and sea fog. In full of beautiful “pazos” (Galician traditional manor houses) among others the general, rainfall is high and the Pazo Torrado. The landscape is of low rolling hills that surround open, sunny temperatures mild with maxi- mum temperatures in summer valleys of sandy soils excellent for growing the Albariño grapes. The vineyards rarely usually exceeding 85ºF are growing on hillsides, not exceeding 328 ft above sea level though, and and only drop to 32ºF in Decem- ber and January. mainly on the flat valleys.

The regulatory Council (Consejo Regulador) of the Rias Baixas DO Pazo Torrado Albariño currently authorizes twelve dif- Pazo Torrado is produced with 100% Albariño grapes carefully harvested in ferent grape varieties, though Albariño represents over 90% of 44lb cases after the hot, dry summers of the region, when the grapes reach the SPAIN UNITED STATES all vines planted, which was be- perfect point of ripeness. The grapes are destemmed and crushed and then lieved to have been introduced to the area in the 12th century passed to the pneumatic press, then the must goes into a tank to decant for by the Cistercian monks of the one day, after that time the clean juice bound for fermentation in stainless steel Monastery of Armenteira. Cur- rent thought is that the grape tanks (65°F) is filtered with a vacuum filter. Following fermentation, the wine is related to the French vari- is racked to separate it from the gross lees. The next process is cold stabiliza- ety Petite Manseng. Due to the weather conditions, the vines tion, subjecting the wine to 23°F in an isothermal tank for a week to precipi- are trained along granite posts tate bitartrates. After that week, the wine is sterile filtered and bottled. Pazo RÍAS BAIXAS (called parrales) and wires so as Area of vineyards: to protect them from humidity Torrado Albariño has an attractive lemon-yellow color with flashes of green, 3,966 hectares and to maximize their exposure clean and bright. On the nose, there are fruity (predominantly green apple and (96% Albarino) to the sun in summer. The grape peach) citrus and floral aromas, with a medium to high intensity. This wine is Number of vineyards: is noted for its distinctive aroma, 6,617 very similar to that of Viognier, fresh, lively and fragrant. In the palate, the wine is smooth with med plus acid- Gewurztraminer and Petit Man- Number of wineries: seng — suggesting apricot and ity perfectly integrated with alcohol. On the persistent finish, the wine again 181 peach, along with floral notes shows green apples and other fruits with some lingering minerality. Production: and minerality. The wine pro- 286988 hectoliters duced is usually light, and gener- (15% exported) ally high in acidity with alcohol levels of around 12%. Permitted maximum yields (Albariño): 74 hl/ha IMPORTED BY: p: 847.647.1100 f: 847.647.2110 | www.winesellersltd.com