Winemaker Notes
After achieving prominence for producing world-class Albarino and becoming one of the strongest boutique brands in Spain, Adegas Galegas was acquired by the most prominent group of growers in Galicia in 2012. This group of knowledgeable growers and winemakers has been able to update the cellars and continue improving the vineyard management practices in Adegas Galegas’s historic vineyards. Shortly thereafter, Asunción Carballo was brought in as head winemaker and now leads a team dedicated to producing wines of true regional character coupled with modern and cutting edge winemaking. Asunción Carballo has the distinction of being the highest ranked Spanish white winemaker by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, and represents a new wave of talented, young female winemakers in Spain.
Under this new management, Adegas Galegas has expanded their vineyard holdings to produce Godello from the Monterrei appellation, and Mencía from Bierzo.
Named after the rías, or estuarine inlets, that flow as far as 20 miles inland, Rías Baixas is an Atlantic coastal region with a cool and wet maritime climate. The entire region claims soil based on granite bedrock, but the inlets create five subregions of slightly different growing environments for its prized white grape, Albariño.
Val do Salnés on the west coast is said to be the birthplace of Albariño; it is the coolest and wettest of all of the regions. Having been named as the original subregion, today it has the most area under vine and largest number of wineries.
Ribeira do Ulla in the north and inland along the Ulla River is the newest to be included. It is actually the birthplace of the Padrón pepper!
Soutomaior is the smallest region and is tucked up in the hills at the end of the inlet called Ria de Vigo. Its soils are light and sandy over granite.
O Rosal and Condado do Tea are the farthest south in Rías Baixas and their vineyards actually cover the northern slopes of the Miño River, facing the Vinho Verde region in Portugal on its southern bank.
Albariño gives this region its fame and covers 90% of the area under vine. Caiño blanco, Treixadura and Loureira as well as occasionally Torrontés and Godello are permitted in small amounts in blends with Albariño. Red grapes are not very popular but Mencía, Espadeiro and Caiño Tinto are permitted and grown.
Bright and aromatic with distinctive floral and fruity characteristics, Albariño has enjoyed a surge in popularity and an increase in plantings over the last couple of decades. Thick skins allow it to withstand the humid conditions of its homeland, Rías Baixas, Spain, free of malady, and produce a weighty but fresh white. Somm Secret—Albariño claims dual citizenship in Spain and Portugal. Under the name Alvarinho, it thrives in Portugal’s northwestern Vinho Verde region, which predictably, borders part of Spain’s Rías Baixas.