Spain - Galicia

Question 1

What is differentiating about Galicia, and what is the general climate?

Answer 1

An autonomous community in NW Spain.
It experiences cool, wet weather due to its proximity to the Atlantic.

Question 2

What is the largest DO of Galicia? How much wine is produced, and how does this compare to 1991?

Answer 2

Rías Baixas. 250,000hL per year, compared to 3,500hL in 1991.

Question 3

How many ha under vine does Rías Baixas have? How many growers and wineries are there?

Answer 3

4000ha.
5,500 growers.
170 wineries, ranging from small to very large.

Question 4

Which wine business dominates in Rías Baixas? What’s an example?

Answer 4

Co-operatives. The largest is Bodegas Martín Códax, working with over 300 growers.

Question 5

What changes were made in Rías Baixas after phylloxera?

Answer 5

Much of vineyard land was replanted with hybrid varieties and high-yielding palomino vines, and many vineyards were tiny plots of land whose owners would sell on their grapes to local producers, this small scale grape growing continues today.

Question 6

What changes were made in the 1970s and 80s in Rías Baixas?

Answer 6

Incentives to grow indigenous varieties and modernise winery equipment, which led to significant in the quality of the wines. The region began to gain a reputation for quality wines in a desirable, fresh and fruity style that became popular first in Spain, and latterly in export markets.

Question 7

What is the climate of Rías Baixas?

Answer 7

Distinctly maritime. The Atlantic moderates annual temperatures, giving warm summers and mild winters.
Avg rainfall is 1700mm, falling throughout the year. (Fungal disease and untimely rain are key hazards)

Question 8

What are the soil types of Rías Baixas?

Answer 8

Sand over granite bedrock, which are fortunately free draining, helping ensure the roots don’t sit in water.

Question 9

Why is Albarino well suited to Rías Baixas? How much of production does it account for?

Answer 9

Over 95%.
Well suited to the damp climate, having thick skins that make it less prone to rot.
It’s early to mid ripening, and hence, with a warming climate and improved viticultural understanding and practices, it can become fully ripe in most years.

Question 10

What is the general profile of Albariño from Rías Baixas?

Answer 10

High acid, medium (-) to medium body, medium alcohol and aromas of lemon, grapefruit and peach, sometimes with a floral note.

Question 11

In the rare occasions Albariño is blended, what is it blended with, and what do they contribute to the blend?

Answer 11

Loureira (early ripening, medium (+) acidity, aromatic citrus, pear, floral and herbal notes).
Treixadura (mid-ripening, low acidity, apple and peach flavours).
Caiño Blanco (late ripening, high acidity, citrus).

Question 12

Which black grapes are planted in Rías Baixas? How much of production do they account for?

Answer 12

Sousón (AKA Vinhão across the Portuguese border) and Caiño Tinto. Account for 1% of production.

Question 13

What is unusual about Rías Baixas?

Answer 13

Unusually for a DO, it’s made up of 5 non-contiguous subzones.

Question 14

Which Rías Baixas subzone is the oldest? What else is significant about it?

Answer 14

Val do Salnés. It has the greatest plantings and concentration of wineries. It’s located directly on the coast and is therefore the coolest and wettest area, generally producing wines of the highest acidity.

Question 15

Which Rías Baixas subzone often blends Albariño with Portuguese varieties? What else is significant about it?

Answer 15

O Rosal, which lies along the river Miño as it reaches the ocean.
Blends with Loureira, Treixadura and Caiño Blanco are common due to its position on the border.
With south-facing sites on the north Bank of the river, its warmer than Val do Salnés, resulting in slightly lower acidity with a wider array of possible primary aromas.

Question 16

Which Rías Baixas subzone is the warmest? What else is significant about it?

Answer 16

Condado do Tea, inland from O Rosal and hence even warmer, producing wines that are riper in style with more peach fruit and slightly lower acidity, hence being easy to drink when young

Question 17

Which Rías Baixas subzone is the newest?

Answer 17

Ribeira do Ulla, and as yet produces inexpensive and mid priced wines.

Question 18

Which Rías Baixas subzone is the smallest?

Answer 18

Soutomaior.

Question 19

What is the general profile of whites from Rias Baixas? Which producers are known for quality?

Answer 19

High acidity, medium /(-) body, medium alcohol. Peach, melon and lemon.
Good to very good, with some outstanding, and mid to premium.
Pazo de Senorans and Palacio de Fefiñanes.

Question 20

What trellising system is popular in Rías Baixas?

Answer 20

Parral (pergola) remains popular, often using granite stone supports in the humid atmosphere.
This was originally popular to allow the growth of other agricultural crops underneath. However, the additional benefit for grape growing is that, when trained relatively high, it promotes air circulation under the canopy, reducing the likelihood of fungal diseases.

Question 21

Which other trellising system is now widely implemented in Rías Baixas?

Answer 21

VSP for bigger growers, to allow mechanisation.

Question 22

What is typical winemaking of Rías Baixas?

Answer 22

Protective to retain primary fruit.

White grapes may be macerated for a few hours to enhance flavour intensity and provide greater texture.

Cool fermentation in steel is common.

Some producers may encourage at least partial MLC in cool years to reduce malic acid rather than introduce buttery notes.

Inexpensive wines are usually released early.

More expensive examples are often stored on the lees (sobre lias); one to two years is typical, but some wines remain for longer. Usually, the lees are not stirred (or occasionally), which could introduce oxygen, and the effect is mainly to the body and texture, although some light creaminess may be evident.

Some P ferment the most expensive wines in oak, which may vary from entirely large, old oak giving texture, to a proportion of new for toasty, vanilla notes.

Question 23

What is the state of exports from Rías Baixas?

Answer 23

On average, just over 25% of sales come from exports, a proportion that has increased significantly over the last couple of decades (in 2000, just over 1/10th of sales came from exports.
The USA is the biggest market, followed by the UK.

Question 24

What is an overview of smaller DOs within Galicia?

Answer 24

There’s a number with smaller production volumes than Rías Baixas, but are gaining recognition on international markets.
Further from the coast, they have less temperate climates with warmer summers and less rainfall.
They all grow a range of local varieties, including those found in Rías Baixas, but Godello and Mencía are arguably the most recognised on export markets.

Question 25

Where is Ribeiro DO located, and what is important to know?

Answer 25

The most westerly of the other DOs, just E of southern Rías Baixas. Although more sheltered than Rías Baixas, it still has a maritime climate with temperate conditions and high rainfall. It produces mainly white wines: Treixadura is the most planted and made either as a single varietal or as the lead component in a white blend with other Galician varieties. It is not unusual for producers to ferment or mature their most expensive wines in oak.

Question 26

Where is Ribeira Sacra DO located? What is important to know?

Answer 26

Further inland, following the valley of the River Miño northwards and of the River Sil eastwards from their confluence. Climate is continental, but depending on site exposure, there can be maritime influences. Many vineyards are situated on very precipitous and deep valley sides, at various altitudes and aspects. The stony slopes provide good drainage and conduct heat during the day, but make viticulture extremely labour intensive. The most important variety is Mencia, showing red cherry and raspberry. Medium body and tannins, medium (+) acidity. Mid priced and made in a fresh, early drinking style.

Question 27

Where is Valdeorras located? What is important to know about it?

Answer 27

Located further up the River Sil. The most easterly Galician DO and has a continental climate, though still plentiful rain (700-1000mm), with vineyards at roughly 300m. Despite the region being known for slate mining, the regions vineyards are planted on a diverse range of soils. Valdeorras has gained a reputation of producing good and very good Godello (citrus and stone fruit, sometimes with herbal or wet stone characs, medium (+) acidity). Premium versions are often fermented or matured in oak for toasty, spicy complexity. Mencía is the most important black grape, but little is planted in comparison.

Question 28

Where is Monterrei located, and what is important to know?

Answer 28

Some way south of Ribeira Sacra, on the border of Portugal, inland. It's sheltered from the ocean influence by the Sierra de Larouca mountains, and so has a continental climate with hot summers and relatively low rainfall. Much of production is inexpensive bulk wines, but the region is starting to make some good mencia (riper than in Ribeira Sacra) nmand some fruity Godello.