DO Rías Baixas – Albariño’s Kingdom

LOCATION AND HISTORY

The Galician coast generates some unique estuaries on which large vine crops are situated. The DO Rías Baixas is responsible for 2,700 hectares, which makes it the largest producer in the region, and is therefore divided into five sub-areas: Val do Salnés, Soutomaior, Ribera do Ulla, Condado do Tea, and O Rosal. These latter two have a long production history and have their own growing systems, whilst in areas such as Salnés, the work has begun more recently. The major distinction of the area is the Albariño grape, whose origin is attributed to the Cistercian monks, although others talk about its arrival as being from Portugal. The success of this variety in the international market has encouraged young oenologists to expand the growing areas and experiment with new production systems.

SOILS

The largest cultivation area, despite being the newest, is Salnés, a coastal town which crosses two estuaries; therefore its soils are rocky and have an alluvial surface layer. More south, along the East-West border with Portugal and on both sides of the river Miño, Rosal is reached, where a wide estuary opens and the surface layer of soil is alluvial. El Condado do Tea is formed by small complex river valleys, therefore the granite and slate bedrock comes to the surface. Soutomaior has light and sandy soils on granite rock, whilst Ribera do Ulla is composed mainly of an alluvial surface area.

CLIMATE

This is the hottest and driest part of Galicia, so occasionally long summers of drought are produced. Although it shares some of the characteristics of the plateau, the Atlantic influence produces much colder autumns with rainfall, but the Sierra de Larouco is responsible for protecting the wines of the rainy winds from the Northeast.

TYPE OF GRAPE

The grape variety that reigns in the DO Rías Baixas is the Albariño, which represents 96.5% of the production. Other varieties of recommended white wine are Treixadura, generally mixed with Albariño in Condado do Tea; Loureira Blanca, a local high quality grape variety associated with the area O Rosal; and Godello, recently replanted. In regards to the red varieties, there is Caiño, Espadeiro, Loureira Tinta and Sousón. The use of modern technology has also been a key influence. The producers go from modern cooperatives to handmade producers, who make high quality ‘signature’ wines.