Together, the two projects offer a much broader picture of the region, from coastal Albariño in RÃas Baixas to MencÃa grown among the steep inland vineyards of Ribeira Sacra.
The family’s connection to the property can be traced to 1707, while its role in the modern history of Albariño began during the 20th century. Ernesto Zárate was one of the founders of the Fiesta del Albariño in Cambados, winning its first three competitions before stepping away from the event.
Eulogio took responsibility for the vineyards and cellar in 2000, becoming the seventh generation of his family to work the estate.
Today, Zárate comprises 6.54 hectares divided between 11 small parcels in the parishes of Sisán and Padrenda. The vineyards are planted with massal selections taken from the family’s oldest vines, some of which still grow on their own roots.
The work in the vineyard is deliberately restrained. The soils have not been tilled since 1994, natural ground cover is maintained throughout the year, and the estate avoids herbicides and synthetic fertilisers.
Fento Wines was established by Eulogio and Rebeca in 2012.
Where Zárate is firmly rooted in one family estate, Fento gives them the freedom to work across a wider area. The project includes vineyards in the south of Pontevedra, particularly Condado do Tea, as well as wines from Ribeira Sacra and occasional work across the Portuguese border in Dão.
Fento works with local growers and varieties rather than attempting to impose one house style on every wine. Vineyard, soil and vintage determine the approach taken in the cellar.
Fresh citrus and white fruit meet a distinctly saline, Atlantic character. There is plenty of acidity, but also texture and depth, making this a brilliant example of why Albariño from this part of Galicia has such a strong following.
A bright, straightforward expression of Albariño from Eulogio Pomares in RÃas Baixas. Bico do Cabo is all about freshness, with plenty of citrus and stone fruit, a light salty edge and the acidity that makes Albariño so good at the table.
Fresh, uncomplicated and very easy to drink, while still showing plenty of Galician character.
A fresh, lighter expression of MencÃa from Ribeira Sacra, one of Galicia’s most dramatic wine regions.
Ollo de Sapo is bright and fragrant, with juicy red fruit, gentle spice and plenty of freshness. Rather than chasing weight or extraction, Eulogio keeps things lively and easy to drink, allowing MencÃa’s naturally aromatic character to come through.
A particularly good red for anyone who prefers their wines fresh, savoury and on the lighter side.
Eulogio Pomares: One Winemaker, Two Views of Galicia
For Eulogio Pomares, Galicia cannot be explained through one grape or one denomination.
At Bodegas Zárate, he works within a family estate whose history in the Val do Salnés stretches back for centuries. Through Fento Wines, the project he established with his wife, Rebeca Montero, he looks further afield, working with different vineyards, growers and varieties across Galicia.
Together, the two projects offer a much broader picture of the region, from coastal Albariño in RÃas Baixas to MencÃa grown among the steep inland vineyards of Ribeira Sacra.
Wine Folly.
Bodegas Zárate
Bodegas Zárate is based at a 15th-century manor in Meaño, in the Val do Salnés subregion of RÃas Baixas.
The family’s connection to the property can be traced to 1707, while its role in the modern history of Albariño began during the 20th century. Ernesto Zárate was one of the founders of the Fiesta del Albariño in Cambados, winning its first three competitions before stepping away from the event.
Eulogio took responsibility for the vineyards and cellar in 2000, becoming the seventh generation of his family to work the estate.
Today, Zárate comprises 6.54 hectares divided between 11 small parcels in the parishes of Sisán and Padrenda. The vineyards are planted with massal selections taken from the family’s oldest vines, some of which still grow on their own roots.
The work in the vineyard is deliberately restrained. The soils have not been tilled since 1994, natural ground cover is maintained throughout the year, and the estate avoids herbicides and synthetic fertilisers.
This attention to individual parcels is central to the Zárate range. Rather than treating Albariño as a single, uniform style, Eulogio uses it to examine the differences between vineyards, vine age and growing conditions within Val do Salnés.
Fento Wines
Fento Wines was established by Eulogio and Rebeca in 2012.
Where Zárate is firmly rooted in one family estate, Fento gives them the freedom to work across a wider area. The project includes vineyards in the south of Pontevedra, particularly Condado do Tea, as well as wines from Ribeira Sacra and occasional work across the Portuguese border in Dão.
Fento works with local growers and varieties rather than attempting to impose one house style on every wine. Vineyard, soil and vintage determine the approach taken in the cellar.
In the coastal vineyards, Albariño is joined by varieties such as Treixadura, Loureiro, Godello and Torrontés. Further inland, red grapes including MencÃa, Sousón and Espadeiro become part of the picture.
The result is not a second version of Zárate. Fento has its own purpose: to look at Galicia as a connected but highly varied wine-growing landscape.
The result is not a second version of Zárate. Fento has its own purpose: to look at Galicia as a connected but highly varied wine-growing landscape.
R1,340 including delivery
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Eulogio Pomares Mixed Case 2026
2 x Bodegas Zárate Albariño 2024
2 x Fento ‘Bico do Cabo’ Albariño 2024
2 x Fento ‘Ollo de Sapo’ MencÃa 2024
A six-bottle mixed case exploring Eulogio Pomares’ work across Galicia, with two bottles of each wine.
From the historic Zárate family estate in Val do Salnés comes a structured, saline Albariño shaped by granite soils and the nearby Atlantic. Fento’s Bico do Cabo offers a fresher, more direct take on Albariño, while Ollo de Sapo moves inland to Ribeira Sacra for a light, energetic expression of MencÃa.
THE WINES:
R475.00Read more
Bodegas Zárate Albariño 2024
Zarate is the family wine that sits at the heart of Eulogio Pomares’ work in RÃas Baixas. Made from Albariño grown around the family’s vineyards in the Salnés Valley, this is a more serious and detailed expression of the variety.
Fresh citrus and white fruit meet a distinctly saline, Atlantic character. There is plenty of acidity, but also texture and depth, making this a brilliant example of why Albariño from this part of Galicia has such a strong following.
R330.00Add to basket
Fento ‘Bico do Cabo’ Albariño 2024
A bright, straightforward expression of Albariño from Eulogio Pomares in RÃas Baixas. Bico do Cabo is all about freshness, with plenty of citrus and stone fruit, a light salty edge and the acidity that makes Albariño so good at the table.
Fresh, uncomplicated and very easy to drink, while still showing plenty of Galician character.
R280.00Add to basket
Fento Wines ‘Ollo de Sapo’ MencÃa 2024
A fresh, lighter expression of MencÃa from Ribeira Sacra, one of Galicia’s most dramatic wine regions.
Ollo de Sapo is bright and fragrant, with juicy red fruit, gentle spice and plenty of freshness. Rather than chasing weight or extraction, Eulogio keeps things lively and easy to drink, allowing MencÃa’s naturally aromatic character to come through.
A particularly good red for anyone who prefers their wines fresh, savoury and on the lighter side.