Few regions in the world have the privilege of having soil and climate favorable to the cultivation of vines and the production of quality wines. Each terroir offers its particularities which it transfers to the wine in a magical process. Such is the case of Galician winestoday we tell you what makes them so special.
To drink a wine from the Galicia region is to feel the flavor of the region concentrated in a glass. There are several outstanding wineries that make this drink with different types of grapes. Among the most recognized grape varieties are Albariño and Godello, with which white wines are made, and Mencía, from which red wine is obtained.
We can find other varieties of red wine such as Tempranillo, Merenzao, Caiño, Sousón, Loureiro, Ferrón, Garnacha, Negrada and Brancellao. While for white wine we also find Doña Branca, Palomino, Torrontés, Macabeo, Treixadura, Albilla and Lado.
Galician wines are among the most appreciated in the world and stand out for their balance between acidity and aroma while offering freshness and lightness ideal for dealing with the heat and humidity typical of the region.
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Galician designations of origin
Galicia has five denominations of origin, Rías Baixas, Monterrei, Ribeiro, Valdeorras and Ribeira Sacra and each of them offers wines with its own stamp.
These DOs are concentrated between La Coruña, Pontevedra and above all Ourense, and 60% of the autochthonous varieties of Spain are grown there.
Rias Baixas
The Denomination of Origin Rías Baixas stands out for maintaining the tradition of cultivation of native grape varieties in the region, adding to it the technological innovation of the wine sector.
The cultivation of these indigenous grape varieties confirms the presence of a varietal richness capable of personalizing the wines of the wine-growing sub-regions which receive a clear oceanic influence.
Albariño is the most remarkable wine because it adapts very well to the difficult local climate, acquiring a marked and authentic Atlantic character. It has a medium intensity and a lot of body and is characterized by a bright yellow color with golden and green nuances.
Monterrey
The wine-growing activity in this place dates back to Roman times, as evidenced by the archaeological remains found in the region.
From the end of the 9th century, the activity developed thanks to the religious orders. Wine was used as tribute to pay monasteries and feudal lords.
Later, during the Middle Ages and part of the Modern Age, Monterrei exerted a great influence on the economic, political and cultural aspects in Galicia and Spain. The wines came to be marketed in different parts of the Spanish colonies in America.
Currently, the white wines produced in Monterrei have a straw yellow or almost golden color. They are fresh, fruity and slightly bitter. While the reds are deep purple in color with aromas of berries and reds.
Ribeiro
Ribeiro wines were already protagonists of Spanish trade, especially in Santiago de Compostela around the year 1100. In fact, it was one of the most expensive in the city. A few centuries later, the English will be the main consumers of this drink outside the country.
The prevailing climate is Atlantic, with mild temperatures and abundant rains. The vines are raised on the sunniest slopes so that the fruits are not in contact with the ground.
Currently we are faced with white wines with greenish tones with fruity, floral and balsamic aromas. In the case of the reds, the wines are fruity and with a hint of acidity.
Valdeorras
This region has a wine-growing tradition since the time of the Roman Empire. The particular Mediterranean-Atlantic microclimate favored the planting of vines and the construction of presses.
It is a warm corridor, between high mountains, with intense light.
Over the centuries, a whole culture has been created around the vineyards and the elaboration of the drink for the pleasure of the inhabitants and the pilgrims who traveled the Camino de Santiago. Today, this culture remains in force.
It is a wine with a high alcohol content, fruity, with a yellowish or golden tone. The reds have an intense purple color and a fruity aroma with an intense and prolonged aftertaste.
Ribeira sacra
This denomination is of recent creation, although since Roman times the vine has been cultivated in this ribeira favored by a geography that facilitates the ripening of the grapes. Wine was known as the liquid gold of Sil.
Currently, the traditional indigenous Galician varieties are still maintained, specializing in high quality young reds, with reddish tones, fruity and very aromatic.
Taste Galician wines
Now that you know these high quality wines with unique qualities, if you are a wine lover, you cannot pass up the opportunity to taste them live on your next trip to Galicia.
You can go to one of the best Galician wine shops such as Wines.Gal and there you will find a wide variety of the best representatives of each Denomination of Origin.
The wine routes offered by the region will also make you discover the history of the place, taste typical dishes and enjoy the beauty of its landscapes.
Only for foodies…