The story of the Méndez family is deeply tied to Galicia’s native Albariño grape. Gerardo Méndez, alongside his father Francisco, was one of just 14 growers who helped establish the Rías Baixas DO back in 1988. But his work with Albariño started well before that. This first wine, made in 1973, didn’t even have a label. When he finally released his first labeled bottling a decade later, he called it Do Ferreiro (“The Blacksmith”), a nod to the family’s roots. Today at Do Ferreiro, the Méndez family farms more than 175 tiny parcels of Albariño by hand, all scattered around their home in the Salnés subzone. With the Atlantic nearby and mountain ranges offering natural protection, the location is ideal for producing Albariño with elegance and purity.