is located just south of the city of Pontevedra. The soils are light and sandy, and covered with granite.• Ribera de UllaThe Ribera de Ulla sub-zone, to the north of Pontevedra, was incorporated recently in 2000. The soils are mainly alluvial.

THE CLIMATEThe Rías Baixas DO is fully integrated within the Atlantic region. In winter, the areas of low pressure from the west and southwest Atlantic, with warm fronts of frequently tropical air, bring heavy rainfall and influence the region’s mild and even warm temperatures that vary very little between day and night. The areas of low pressure from the north and northeast are less frequent and are already weakened when they reach the area, bringing little rain. Frost only occurs when the night temperatures drop due to cold air from the Arctic or when the anticyclones push the areas of low pressure northwards. The average temperature for January, the coldest month of the year, confirms the mild winters. This ranges from 10°C (48.2ºF) in A Guarda to 9°C (50ºF) in Frieira. The winter season is very wet and gathers 38%

DEUSA NAI RAIS BAIXAS ALBARIÑO from MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES

THE REGIONRías Baixas is Spanish “Denominación de Origen” (DO) for wines located in the Northwest region of Galicia, Spain. It is renowned for its white wines made from the Albariño grape variety. This is a very small DO with a surface area of 8,900 acres (vs 155,000 acres in Rioja) of which 90% is Albariño. In 2009, the Rías Baixas DO produced a total of 23,000,000 kg, equivalent to 2 million cases (vs 400,000,000 kg or 33 million cases in Rioja).

GEOGRAPHYThe DO is divided into five sub-zones:• Valle de Salnés (Cáceres Albariño sub-zone)Val do Salnés is located on the lower reaches of the river Umia and centered around the town of Cambados. The landscape is of low undulating hills and the vineyards are planted both on the slopes and on the flat valley floors. The soil is generally rocky and alluvial and sandy.• O RosalO Rosal is located further south, along the Portuguese frontier in the basin of the river Miño and extends inwards towards the town of Tui. The vineyards here are planted on terraces on the banks of the Miño. The soils are alluvial and sandy.• Condado de TeaCondado do Tea, in the west, extends westwards from Tui along the Miño valley up to the neighboring Ribeiro (DO). The landscape is more abrupt and consists of several small river valleys. The soils are granite and slate based.• SoutomaiorThe Soutomaior sub-zone was incorporated into the Denominación de Origen in 1996 and The World Atlas of Wine

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of the average annual rainfall of 63 inches (three times as much as Rioja). Spring is early and humid. The major climatic risks during this season are frost and coulure (shatter). The possibility of frost on the coast is nil but increases as we move inland. Damage due to frost is highly dependent on the uneven terrain typical of the Rias Baixas DO. The anticyclone from the Azores reaches the western Atlantic early summer and prevents any atmospheric disturbances, which at the most glide past the northern coast of Galicia. Rainfall is infrequent and of little abundance whilst temperatures remain mild thanks to the fresh air. Summer storms are rare and the risk of hail is low. This season brings a significant drought, favored by a drop in rainfall, higher temperatures and sandy soils that facilitate infiltration. Once the anticyclone moves away, the autumn season brings a lot of rainfall with continual areas of low pressure.

THE GRAPESThe regulatory Council (Consejo Regulador) of the Rias Baixas DO currently authorises twelve different grape varieties, though Albariño represents over 90% of all vines planted.Authorised white grapesAlbariño, Loureira Blanca, Treixadura, Caiño Blanca, Torrontés and Godello.Authorised red varieties Caiño Tinto, Espadeiro, Loureira Tinta, Sousón, Mencía and Brancellao. The vines are trained along granite posts (called parrales) and wires so as to protect them from humidity and to maximise their exposure to the sun in summer.AlbariñoThe Albariño grape is unique and indigenous to Rías Baixas. This grape has great character due to the climate and the soil on which it is cultivated. Robust with thick skin and abundant vegetation, it is resistant to mildew. The vine-plants are trained on high wires on sandy soil and, therefore, need a lot of rain. These would be totally stressed in the event of having to survive 15 days without rain. This variety and the climate in Rías Baixas are totally made for each other. The maximum authorised yields per acre are 1,900 gallons, although the average is 1,270 gallons. The vineyard surface is made up of very small holdings. The grape growing process makes very little use of modern technology and harvesting by hand in plastic boxes of 40 lb. is obligatory. THE WINES Monovarietal wines such as “Albariño” have a bright, pale yellow color with shimmering gold and green highlights. The bouquet is intense and long-lasting with a depth of citrus fruit and floral sensations. In the mouth, these wines are fresh and friendly with body and fullness. Their acidity provides freshness and potential for aging. The aftertaste is pleasant, elegant and dense. The new vintages are released during the months of March or April.

These wines marry perfectly with fish and seafood and the latest creative cuisine using produce from the sea. Ideal for drinking at any time of the day, either sip by sip as a refreshing aperitif or to accompany the most sophisticated gastronomy.

DEUSA NAI RAIS BAIXAS ALBARIÑO FROM MARQUÉS DE CÁCERESDeusa Nai clearly reflects this Albariño’s character. The brand name means “Mother goddess”, a term used to refer to a goddess who represents motherhood, fertility, creation or embodies the bounty of the earth. Representing the fertility of the earth, this divine goddess was highly revered in mythical Galicia where she used her power to protect the land that is very complex and diverse due to the climatology and the orientation/exposure of the vineyards. We pay homage to Deusa Nai in baptising this new wine that promises to complement our current range of white wines.

Limited production of 6,600 cases. Attractive golden straw colour with pale green highlights. Fresh and fragrant bouquet where mineral notes mingle with a hint of grapefruit and mandarins. On tasting, lively fruit sensations awaken the taste buds with full flavour and refreshing acidity. Full in the mouth with good length. A wine to be enjoyed young or slightly later, for its acidity will develop favourably in bottle.

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