GRAPES

Up to twelve local grape varieties are permitted by the DO Rias Baixas although one of them, Albariño, represents 90% of the vineyards. Other varieties that are permitted: Treixadura, usually blended with Albariño in the Condado de Tea, Loureira Blanca, a local grape variety of high quality associated with the O Rosal area, the Godello, recently planted in this DO after the success it had in other areas of Galicia, and laslty the white Caíño Blanca.

Red varieties permitted: Mencia and Brancellao.

Throughout the D.O. monovarietals of albariños abound, but the core is in the subzone of O Salnés, with the emblematic little town of Cambados, which each year celebrates a feast in honor of this grape.

The vines are planted on granite pergolas called parrales with the aim to protect them from moisture and give them greater body through summer sunlight. Although, nowadays vine-growers are experimenting with the "double curtain system". Many are already thinking about the use of mechanical harvesting for the future. Yields are relatively high compared to other productive areas of Spain.

HISTORY

It is considered that the Albariño grape was introduced in the twelfth century by Cistercian monks (Monastery of Armenteira) from the Rhine. Although other theories maintain that it passed through Portugal, where it arrived from Greece, in English ships.

The subzones of O Rosal and Condado de Tea have a long history of winemaking and have their own traditional styles. O Salnés, on the other hand, began producing Albariño varieties more recently selling wine in small quantities for local consumption in bars and restaurants.

Today, the wines of the D.O. Rias Baixas have achieved major awards and are present in the world’s most prestigious tastings.

LOCATIONS

The D.O. is divided into five sub-areas, four in the province of Pontevedra and one south of A Coruña. Val do Salnés, in the lower river valley of Umia and  centered in Cambados, a historic coastal city situated on a peninsula, is a gently undulating area and it’s vineyards sit in both little steep slopes of different orientations as well as on level ground. Other municipalities known in this subarea are: Vilagarcía de Arousa, Sanxenxo, Meaño and O Grove among others.

Farther south along the east-west border with Portugal and in the lower watershed of the Miño, is O Rosal, which extends inland to the city of Tui.

El Condado do Tea, in the west, extends from Tui along the Miño valley until it meets the DO Ribeiro. The terrain is more rugged, composed of a series of small river valleys formed by tiny rivers.

Two subareas have recently been built: Soutomaior, just south of the city of Pontevedra, and Ribera de Ulla, north of Pontevedra, in the province of A Coruña.