Christie Kiley on August 4, 2014 0 Comments Throughout the summer months it is nice to switch up the wine routine, get away from the average summer wines of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, the steel-fermented Chardonnay and Rose. I simply love checking out all the variety of summer wines available from all over the world. I long for something different, something exciting and inspiring. I love those certain wines that make me want to cook and conjure up dishes I have never tried making before and sharing it all, both the food and the wine with someone I love. This wine, the Pazo de Señorans wine is one of these wines. So what did I make with it? Only what the Spaniards might make with such a beautiful wine of its kind; a Gazpacho of garden tomatoes, cucumbers, a sweet bell pepper, roasted garlic, flat-leaf parsley and cilantro. That was just for starters. Then, I sourced some fresh clams, sauteed a couple cloves of minced garlic added some of the Albarino to the pan, the clams and covered and steamed them with a dollop of butter and salt. Add this to a serving bowl with some fresh bread and you have an evening! Sorry there, got a bit caught up in the moment. I should probably get on with telling you about the wine and the winery, right? Pazo de Señorans began in 1989 and is found in a fourteenth-century home of the Val do Salnes sub-region of Rias Baixes, Spain. It was only just purchased by Jacques Mareque and Marisol Bueno in 1979, who restored the property and their buildings. If you were to visit the winery of Pazo de Señorans, you will think you might have taken a step back in time. The buildings of the estate, though they have been restored, are still representative of those which stood in the fourteenth century. The origin of the name of the winery is unknown, but ‘Pazo’ in Spanish is ‘Manor’. Perhaps it is a beautiful estate, however as the subject of the wine is at hand, I must get into it. Their goal is to create wines that are classic and those that reflect the Spanish region as well as tradition, especially Albariño. As each year goes on, they still investigate the best way to continue in the cultivation of their vines through and up until harvest. The wines should be those of the best quality, with the maximum expression of that particular year. The Vines The winery’s environment is in harmony with the various conditions that originate from their vines. The land of the vineyards are at a relatively low altitude, below that of one-thousand feet above sea level, with close proximity to the sea which is associated with lower average temperatures during the year. The winters are rainy, which build on the water table for the spring and upcoming growing season with ideal dry summers, just right for the growing season. These conditions are favorable for their vineyards of Albariño only within a radius of ten kilometers from the sea. The soils drain well as they are made up of ‘xabra’ a sandy-type soil that result from the decomposition of granite rocks which are very poor soils with high acidity. The wine which inspires… So about this Albariño… The color is that of bright yellow with greenish-yellow reflections. Give it a swirl in your glass and it will open up to a refreshing perfume of Granny Smith apples, Asian pears and a touch of yellow grapefruit. The taste of the wine is just as refreshing with a blend of citrus fruits and a significant minerality and almost salinity. Drink now until the end of the summer!! Oh, and feel free to contact me if you need the Gazpacho recipe! More Wine Reviews: Braña Vieja Garnacha Rosé Conundrum White Blend 2012 Don PX Gran Reserva 2008, Montilla Moriles F X Pichler 2012 Loibner Loibenberg Smaragd Grüner Veltliner (Wachau)
