VinoLoverThe Ribeira Sacra is a wine production area with an extension of 2,500 hectares of vineyards, which represents 5.2% of the land dedicated to vines in Galicia. This area is responsible for keeping the essence of all Galician wines, since all the autochthonous Galician varieties are grown here.
It occupies 20 municipalities along the banks of the Miño and Sil rivers, in the south of the province of Lugo and north of Ourense, grouped into 5 sub-zones. Its landscape is defined by the slopes of the rivers covered with terraced vineyards, canyons throughout the territory and numerous churches. Moreover, all its wineries are mainly oriented to the production of red wines, although very interesting whites are also produced.
A bit of history
The current structure of the Ribeira Sacra is attributed to the existence of vineyards before the arrival of the Romans. Its origin is believed to date back to Roman times, when spicy wines were supposedly shipped along with fish. Although the Romans were to play an important role, the monks continued the winemaking tradition.
In the mid-19th century the Ribeira Sacra did not manage to escape the phylloxera that attacked vines all over Spain, with a minor impact. With the arrival of the 20th century, the use of rootstocks began to solve the problems of phylloxera and the vine production areas were once again dedicated to wine production.
Nowadays, wine production is very important, as it is the driving force behind the economic development of the Ribeira Sacra, which stands out as a sign of identity. It presents its wines as a craft in the glass, making an incomparable jewel within everyone’s reach.
Production sub-areas
The Ribeira Sacra wine route extends throughout the whole territory of the DO Ribeira Sacra, being a territory marked by the presence of the rivers Miño and Sil, plagued by smaller rivers as well.
Its great variety of landscapes is one of the characteristics of the area, being a place of magic and tradition. The sub-areas are divided as follows when it comes to its production:
Amandi sub-zone
It is the smallest in extension of the Ribeira Sacra. Many of its vineyards are located in the heart of the famous Cañones del Sil.
This subzone extends along several parishes of the Concello de Sober and the Concello de Conforte de Lemos.
Sub-area of Chantada
The territory in this area extends along the west bank of the river Miño, bounded by its tributary, the river Ferreira, and to the south by the river da barra. This sub-area covers several municipalities and parishes in the province of Lugo, Ourense, Concello de Portomarín, Taboada, Carballedo and Peroxa.
Sub-area of Quiroga- Bibei
This subzone covers a territory in the gorge of the rivers Sil and Bibei. Some of the vineyards in this subzone are located in the territory of the UNESCO World Geopark Montañas do Courel.
In addition, it also covers several municipalities and parishes in the provinces of Ourense and Lugo, the municipalities of Monforte de Lemos, Pobra de Brollón, Quiroga, Ribas de Sil, Pobra de Trives, Manzaneda and San Xoán de Río.
Sub-area of Ribeira do Sil
This is one of the smallest sub-zones that extends along the southern bank of the River Sil, with a small area in the eastern part of the River Miño, present in several municipalities, including Concellos de Teixeira, Parada de Sil, Castro Caldelas and Nogueira de Ramuín.
Varieties in its production
The correct ripening of the grapes generates the production of mainly red wines of great variety being quite young; it also has the production of young white wines.
The following varieties are taken into account for the production of these wines:
- Preferred whites. There is an albariño variety native to Galicia, which occupies most of the surface area. There are other varieties: loureira, treixadura, godello, dona branca and torrontés.
- Preferred reds. They are mainly made with the Mencía variety, which is responsible for giving the wines a bright colour, as well as Caiño, Mencía, Espadeiro and Sousón.
- Authorised reds. The Mencia and Brancellao varieties are used.
Winemaking
For the elaboration of Ribeira Sacra wines, the best care is taken into account, which precedes the manual work in the vineyard. Mountain viticulture is applied, without the presence of mechanisation due to the fact that it is present in an area that is difficult to work.
Most of the work is done by hand, and both men and women balance on narrow stone terraces to give the vines the proper care. The clusters are cut by hand, thus respecting the whole process and improving the production yield.
Taste of the wines
From a physico-chemical and sensory point of view, all the particular conditions that the wines have undergone result in quite specific wines, with very specific characteristics.
The wines will be characterised according to the vineyard where they are produced. The red wines have a purple colouring and in the nose it is possible to appreciate the great alcoholic power, highlighting its fruity aromas.
They havea balanced acidity for the taste of any person who likes red wine. While white wines can take a secondary role, they have an intense aroma, fresh, fruity and at the same time with great fullness in the mouth, with intense aromas typical of the variety.
Characteristics of wine according to its geographical origin
The characteristics of the wine are related to three factors that have a direct influence, which are:
- The climatic conditions of the area.
- The characteristics of the different types of soil.
- The unique orographic contrasts.
The ripening of the grapes is influenced by the altitude and orientation towards the sun in the vineyards, while the soil is responsible for subtly highlighting the different concentrations of fruit.
It is important to note that it is not only the aforementioned characteristics that give the wines recognition and classify them as high quality, but also the commitment of the individual producers.
They have focused on applying their lifelong experience and that of their predecessors, but, over time, they have improved their techniques and methodology for pruning and training, as well as for controlling the vineyard’s yield.
Recommendations for consumption
Being a young wine, the most important thing is to know the best way to get the most out of it. Its appropriate way of consumption will vary over time, as they are wines that can be used at any time of the day as an aperitif or to accompany different meals; all this is due to the fact that its acidity and freshness do not tire the consumer.
The best combination is the one made with the local gastronomy, since being a light wine does not mask the flavours of the food. It should not be forgotten that Ribeira Sacra wines also offer a wide range of culinary possibilities, i.e. as an ingredient in some recipes.
Galician wineries
Although the Ribeira Sacra is a very touristic area, you cannot leave aside its fantastic wines, each one of them of high quality and which have international recognition. Its Galician wineries elaborate their wines with the utmost passion and affection, knowing how to treat their raw material, the grape, in the best possible way.
Many wineries have been characterised by surviving hard times of scarce resources based on smallholdings as a sign of identity.
Nowadays, when you come across a bottle of wine produced in Ribeira Sacra, you will be able to appreciate its result, which expresses honesty and youth, as they are very direct wines that do not undergo any chemical or mechanical treatment to prolong their life.
VinoLover
Claudio Comella
