Rias Baixas

Buy Rias Baixas wine

The beautiful and especially green Rías Baixas is located in the cooler northwest of Spain. Thanks to the influence of the nearby Atlantic Ocean, the climate there is relatively cool and humid. The Albarino white grape plays a starring role, producing fresh and vibrant wines that are highly prized worldwide. This grape thrives in stony soil and enjoys the cool climate here in northern Spain.

The unique climate in Rias Baixas

In Rías Baixas, winemaking only began relatively recently in the last fifty years. The first wineries were established in the 1960s. Quality has continued to improve significantly since then, thanks to innovative technologies and high-quality grape varieties. Winters here are wet, and the sea often creates a blanket of fog over the vineyards. One of the well-known sub-zones of the wine region is Condado do Tea, one of the warmest areas in the region. The other zones are located further north and have a variable climate.

The Condado do Tea zone

The Condado region takes its name from the influence of the Tea River, a tributary of the Miño River, which is characterized by clay and mica soils. Moreover, the climate is somewhat warmer and there is less rain, resulting in wines made primarily from Albariño grapes blended with other varieties like Loureiro, with a tropical flavor and lower acidity. The Vina Nora winery, located here, produces a full-bodied and powerful Albarino wine. Their 25-year-old vineyards cultivate perfectly ripe Albarino grapes, resulting in a balanced white wine.

The limited grape varieties of Rias Baixas

All but four percent of the total planted grapes consist of the white Albarino grape variety. Other grape varieties include Loureira Blanca, Treixadura, Caino Blanca, Torrontes, and Godello. The red grape varieties include Caiño Tinto, Espadeiro, Loureiro Tinta, Sousón, Mencía, Pedral, and Brancellao. The various wineries each operate in their own unique way. Some winegrowers still follow traditional methods, while others adhere to modern methods. In 1988, the work in Rías Baixas was recognized with the DO designation. Here, the latest vinification equipment is used, and because the vineyards often have limited land, there is considerable collaboration among them.

Wines from the Rias Baixas region

Bodegas Terras Gauda owns most of the hectares in Rías Baixas. Founded in 1980, they're not a major player, but they are a high-quality one. Their production is top-notch. Take, for example, the Terras Gauda Etiqueta Negra O Rosal. This wine, as is customary, is made with Albarino, Cainho, and Loureiro. Another major player is the Martin Codax winery. They are one of the few wineries to offer a diverse range, producing red, white, and rosé wines. Fruity Albarino wines dominate the region, while their aromatic wines showcase the region's richness. If "Barrica" is mentioned on the label, you know it's an oak-aged white wine. This, too, is an absolute gem from this wine region.