In the glass
What it pairs with
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Galician percebes (goose barnacles) boiled in seawater
Find galician percebes (goose barnacles) boiled in seawater on TableJourney →
Albariño's saline edge and racy acidity echo the iodine of the barnacles without overwhelming their delicate sweet flesh. -
Arcade oysters on ice with lemon
Atlantic Galician oysters meet their stylistic twin: same coastal salinity, same citrus snap, same minerality from the Ría de Arousa. -
Gambas al ajillo (sizzling garlic prawns)
Find gambas al ajillo (sizzling garlic prawns) on TableJourney →
Sweet prawn, hot olive oil and chilli want a fresh saline white with citrus that won't crumble under the heat. -
Pulpo a feira (Galician boiled octopus with paprika)
Find pulpo a feira (galician boiled octopus with paprika) on TableJourney →
Stone-fruit lift cuts the smoky pimentón dust and the wine's citrus core lifts the olive-oil-slicked tentacle.
How to serve Mar de Frades Albariño
Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
- Serve at 8-10°C. Cellar temperature (8-10°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a smaller all-purpose white glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Galician percebes (goose barnacles) boiled in seawater, Arcade oysters on ice with lemon, Gambas al ajillo (sizzling garlic prawns). Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Mar de Frades was founded in 1987 by Eladio Piñeiro on the Finca Valiñas in Meis and acquired by Zamora Company in 2002. The blue-label thermochromic packaging became the producer's international signature.
- 1987 — Mar de Frades founded by Eladio Piñeiro in Meis
- 2002 — Acquired by Zamora Company
Facts
- Producer
- Mar de Frades
- Grapes
- Albariño
- Classification
- DO Rías Baixas
- Oak
- Stainless steel, 4 months on lees
- ABV
- 12.5%
- Price
- €16-22 at retail
- Drinking window
- 1-5 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1987
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Mar de Frades Albariño
What does Mar de Frades Albariño taste like?
Structurally medium-bodied, high acidity with a medium finish. The thermochromic blue-label Albariño from Meis: the bottle whose label changes colour at serving temperature.
When should I drink Mar de Frades Albariño?
Drink 1-5 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Mar de Frades Albariño?
Galician percebes (goose barnacles) boiled in seawater is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Arcade oysters on ice with lemon and Gambas al ajillo (sizzling garlic prawns). Albariño's saline edge and racy acidity echo the iodine of the barnacles without overwhelming their delicate sweet flesh.
Is Mar de Frades Albariño vegan?
Yes: the producer documents no animal-derived fining agents in production, so the wine is suitable for vegan and vegetarian drinkers.
What grapes are in Mar de Frades Albariño?
The blend is Albariño. The wine is classified as DO Rías Baixas.