With her signature hands-on approach and in-depth knowledge of the art of winemaking, Paula Fandiño, enologist at Mar de Frades, discusses the 2024 vintage, the secrets of this year’s harvest, and the defining characteristics of the vintage.

“A harvest tailored to all our wines

Paula describes the harvest as an exciting and meticulous process, carried out in two stages to meet the needs of both sparkling and still wines. “It began on 28th August with the sparkling wines,” she explains, “harvesting Albariño grapes from the parcels we had pruned in a specific way to achieve the grape profile we were looking for. The key was to ensure the grapes had a lower alcohol content for the first fermentation, which is essential for our sparkling wines.”

As of 3rd September, the focus shifted to harvesting Mar de Frades’ still wines. “The harvest proceeded smoothly, with grapes collected at their optimum ripeness. This year, the grapes are more mature, displaying a more intense aromatic profile than ever, with notes of pineapple, mango, melon, and peach,” says Paula Fandiño.

“A staggered and careful harvest”

During this harvest season, we had the privilege of working with 115 winegrowers, starting at the beautiful Monteveiga Estate, continuing on through the picturesque Ribera de Ulla, and finishing at the Lobeira Estate.

Thanks to favourable weather conditions, we were able to pinpoint the ideal ripening time for each plot, allowing us to carry out a staggered and careful harvest. This approach not only underscores the dedication of our winegrowers but, moreover, it ensures the exceptional quality of our wines.

In the winery, the grapes are handled with great care, making use of gentle pressing and straightforward settling. Paula explains that the fermentations are progressing as expected, and although grape collection has been completed, much work remains before we can enjoy the wines in bottle.

Paula conveys the excitement that always comes with the harvest: “We are enthusiastic about what this year’s yield promises and look forward to sharing the result of our hard work and dedication.” Soon, we will be able to enjoy the outcome of the 2024 harvest.