Have tasted a lot of Albariño to warrant putting this wine on the list, and this one won hands down.

Albariño is incredibly versatile and works so well in many situations that call for a top quality 'house wine'. We are excited to add it to the WW list. 

Benito Santos is a central figure in the modern history of Albariño and the Rias Baixas DO. He began working in his grandfather’s vineyards in the 1930’s making wine for his bar. In the 1960’s he repeatedly won prizes in the Annual Fiesta de Albarino in Cambados and was instrumental in the creation of the DO in the 1980’s. The winery was built in 1979. He is buried nearby in the grounds of the Monastery of Calago in Arousa.

In his work he showed sincerity and a respect for nature (organic farming) enabling the wines to show the character of their terroir. Benito Santos believed that “wine should be made in the vineyard not in the winery.”

Jose Antonio Porto concurs and carries on the tradition.Benito Santos Estate have 12 hectares of vineyard, situated by the sea in the Val do Salnes sub region of the Rias Baixas DO. The vines benefit from the mild Atlantic climate and produce wines with freshness, structure and minerality. Their three Albariño vineyards are certified organic, a rarity in this rainy, mildew prone region. The grapes from these 30 year old vines are hand-picked and the wine is matured for 6 months on its lees before bottling. The wines are salty, mineral, and structured, with ample fruit and great length.