Even though Rias Baixas Protected Designation of Origin is less than 30 years old, it is the one with the largest surface area among those recorded in Galicia, as it includes the areas of the mouth of the River Miño and the Rias Baixas Region. It consists of five perfectly individualized geographical sub-areas:
Within this Protected Designation of Origin white wines based on the Albariño variety are the most produced. Due to its climate, close to the limit of growing grapes, the Rías Baixas PDO (Protected designation of origin) is built into the vast Atlantic region
Single-variety Albariño wines are characterized by a bright straw-yellow colour, with shimmering golden and green iridescences. They have fine and distinguished flower and fruited aromas in the nose, with medium intensity and medium-long term which pleasantly impresses. In the mouth they are fresh and mild, with sufficient body and alcohol strength, a balanced acidity, harmonious and with large shades. Its aftertaste is pleasant, elegant and complete.
Rosal and Condado wines have its own identity as they are made out of Loureira and Treixadura grapes varieties, respectively, in their composition. They are wines of intense aromas, with slight acidity, and are full, pleasant and attractive in the mouth.
The most common white grapes are Albariño, Loureira, Treixadura and white Caíño. Torrontés and Godello are authorized varieties.
The main red grapes are red Caíño, Espadeiro, Loureiro and Sousón. Mencia and Brancellao are among those authorised.
The vineyards of Monterrei Protected Designation of Origin spreads along the region of Monterrei, in the eastern part of the province of Ourense, comprising an extension of 467 hectares. It has one of the driest climates in Galicia, making it easy to obtain healthy crops with minimal treatment.
The unique combination of soil and a characteristic climate creates pale yellow or straw yellow shimmering white wines, with powerful aroma on the nose with fresh aromas and ripe fruit. In the mouth, fresh, fruity and with a certain touch of acidity that balances and compensates the alcoholic strength (12-12,5º) and a slightly bitter finish.
Red wines have an intense purple color with violet or cherry tones, projecting its powerful aroma with notes of red berries and fruits of the forest (raspberry and strawberry). In the mouth acidity and alcohol (12.5 °), harmonious and perfectly matched, are appreciated; they are fresh and with ripe red fruit flavor.
The preferred white grapes are Dona Branca, Godello and Treixadura. But Palomino, Caíño, Loureiro and Albariño varieties are also authorized.
The preferred red grapes are Mencía and Bastardo. Tempranillo (Arauxa) Merenzao, Caíño and Sousón are also among those authorized.
Even though Rias Baixas Protected Designation of Origin is less than 30 years old, it is the one with the largest surface area among those recorded in Galicia, as it includes the areas of the mouth of the River Miño and the Rias Baixas Region. It consists of five perfectly individualized geographical sub-areas:
Within this Protected Designation of Origin white wines based on the Albariño variety are the most produced. Due to its climate, close to the limit of growing grapes, the Rías Baixas PDO (Protected designation of origin) is built into the vast Atlantic region
Single-variety Albariño wines are characterized by a bright straw-yellow colour, with shimmering golden and green iridescences. They have fine and distinguished flower and fruited aromas in the nose, with medium intensity and medium-long term which pleasantly impresses. In the mouth they are fresh and mild, with sufficient body and alcohol strength, a balanced acidity, harmonious and with large shades. Its aftertaste is pleasant, elegant and complete.
Rosal and Condado wines have its own identity as they are made out of Loureira and Treixadura grapes varieties, respectively, in their composition. They are wines of intense aromas, with slight acidity, and are full, pleasant and attractive in the mouth.
The most common white grapes are Albariño, Loureira, Treixadura and white Caíño. Torrontés and Godello are authorized varieties.
The main red grapes are red Caíño, Espadeiro, Loureiro and Sousón. Mencia and Brancellao are among those authorised.
Valdeorras winemaking tradition dates back to Roman times. Valdeorras Designation of origin was granted in 1945 to work towards the recovery of native varieties such as Godello and Mencia.
The areas where this wine is produced covers most of the basin of the Sil, Xares and Bibei rivers in the region of Valdeorras (Ourense), in the eastern part of Galicia. The climate is drier than in the rest of Galicia as it combines the Atlantic influence with continental traits. Soils vary from slate to granite, including those settled down on sediments and terraces.
The flagship wine is white Godello, with a fine fruity aroma, a golden or strawish yellow colour, and a good structure in the mouth, with an average alcohol content of 12,5º. Among red wines, wines made with Mencía stand out. They are intense purple, have an elegant fruity flavour, are light and tasty, with good balance acidity-alcohol, appetizing and with an intense and prolonged aftertaste.
The preferred white grapes are Godello, Loureira, Treixadura, Dona Branca, Albariño, Torrontés and Lado. Palomino is among those authorized varieties.
The preferred red grapes are Mencía, Tempranillo, Brancellao, Merenzao, Sousón, Caíño, Espadeiro and Ferrón. Varieties such as Grenache, gran negro and Mouratón are also authorised.
Ribeira Sacra Designation of Origin was approved in 1997 and in less than 20 years, it has consolidated the wine-making production of over 1,200 hectares in the basins of the Miño and Sil Rivers, on the border between the provinces of Lugo and Ourense.
It consists of five geographical divisions:
In this denomination red wine made from Mencía variety grapes, prevail, representing more than 85% of the total production of this designation of origin. The wines have ruby ??red, bluish-violet colours, fruity flavors and mineral notes.
The prevailing red grapes are Mencia, Brancellao, Merenzao, Sousón, red Caiño and Tempranillo. Moratón and Grenache varieties are also authorized.
The predominant white grapes are Godello, Albariño, Loureira Treixadura, Dona Branca and Torrontés.
The Ribeiro wine`s origin goes back to Roman times, but the splendor came at the hands of the Cistercian monks who settled in the monastery of San Clodio (Leiro) and undertook a huge work to replant and study the vineyards.
Ribeiro Designation of Origin is located on the northwestern edge of the province of Ourense, where the valleys formed by the Miño, Avia and Arnoia rivers, meet. It has an area of ??2,800 hectares of vineyards.
The vineyard extends itself from 75 up to 400 meters high in valleys and slopes sometimes on steep slopes, which saved by terraces, following the land contours.
The peculiar climate is favoured by natural barriers and by its southern situation in Galicia, which protects the territory from sub-Atlantic low pressure and provides an ecoclima in-between oceanic and Mediterranean weather. Soils have an average depth between 70 and 100 centimeters and are mainly of granite origin with significant presence of stones and gravel.
More than 85% of the production in Ribeiro is white wine. These wines are clean and clear, with shades ranging from pale to straw with green hues. It contains flower, fruity and balsamic aromas..
Red wines, which account for less than 15% of production, have a smaller projection and it is of domestic consumption. It has bright cherry-red colour and purple, reflections, fruity aromas, and has an intense aromatic taste with a touch of acidity.
The prevailing white grapes are Treixadura, Palomino, Torrontés, Godello, Macabeo, Albillo, Loureira and Albariño.
The predominant red grapes are Caíño, Grenache, Ferrón, Sousón, Mencia, Tempranillo and Brancellao.
Viños da Terra designation of origin covers wines produced in specified geographic areas, according to the specific requirements for their control. At present, Galicia has the designation wines names from the land of Barbanza and Iria, Terra de Betanzos and Val do Miño-Ourense.
The production area of this designation comprises the land suitable for grape production in the municipalities of Boiro, Catoira, Dodro, A Pobra do Caramiñal, Rianxo, Ribeira and Valga, Lousame, Padron and Porto do Son, in the south in the province of A Coruña, and Pontecesures (Pontevedra).
The preferred white grapes are Albariño, Caíño blanco, Godello Loureiro blanco, Treixadura and Torrontés. The preferred red varieties are Brancellao, Red Caíño, Espadeiro, Red Loureiro, Mencia and Sousón.
Technical data (2015)
Table wines made, produced and bottled in the wine-making area of Betanzos can be protected by this designation. It includes the municipalities of Bergondo, Betanzos, Coirós, Miño and Paderne, Abegondo, Oza dos Ríos and Sada.
The wines will have to be made with at least 60% of grapes of the following recommended varieties:
Technical data (2015)
The production area that can be included in the designation of origin Viño da Terra Val do Miño-Ourense comprises the municipalities of A Peroxa, O Pereiro de Aguiar, Coles, Ourense, Barbadás, San Cibrao das Viñas and Toén. It does not include those that are over 350 meters high and those belonging to the Designation of Origin Ribeiro.
The wines will have to be made with at least 60% of grapes of the following recommended varieties:
The remainder will necessarily be grape of the following authorized varieties: palomino (white) and garnacha (red).
Technical data (2015)
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