STUDY GUIDE: GALICA
Green Spain
Also known as Green Spain, Galica borders Portugal in the northwest. It is a lush verdant region, with dense forests and many estuaries. The climate is cooler maritime ideal for fresh white wines. This region is as far from the Spanish stereotype as possible. Wines are delicate, lively, aromatic and usually white that go perfectly with shellfish.
Facts I Find Interesting:
Galica is a Gallic name as most of this regions traditions are Celtic.
Regions:
Rías Baixas DO
Ribeiro DO
Riberia Sacra DO
Valdeorras DO
Monterrei DO
Rías Baixas DO
pronounced "ree-ass-by-shuss"
everything here is on a small scale. The best bodegas make only a few hundred cases of wine per year.
Portugal is just across the river Miño. Vines here are trained on pergolas (horizontal trellises) at about shoulder height of a tall person, you know, a tall person... like 6 feet+.
Sub zones (north to south)
Riberia do Ulla
Val do Salnés
Soutomajor
Condado do Tea
O Rosal
Soils:
Alluvial & Granit (Val do Salnés, O Rosal & Soutomajor)
Slate & Granit (Condado do Tea)
Alluvial (Riberia do Ulla)
Main Grapes:
White
Albariño - *Main and most important grape. It’s thick skin can resist mildew from the ocean humidity
Loureira Blanca
Treixadura
Caiño Blanca
Red
Caiño Tinto
Espadeiro
Loureira Tinta
Sousón
Due to it's proximity to the Atlantic ocean, the climate of this region is a cool, maritime one. Rainfall and humidity are very high here which results in the emerald landscape that greatly differs from the dessert-like parts of central Spain. The saving grace of this region is the combination of rainfall and hours of sunshine which is plentiful. Rías Baixas grows primarily Albariño which creates fresh and polished white wines with notes of stone fruits, citrus and
Ribeiro DO
Just up the Miño river from Rias Baixas D.O.
One of the oldest recognized wine regions; shipped wine to England in the Middle Ages.
Local Specialty: Viño Tostado - a dried grape wine.
Soils:
Silt & Sand
Main Grapes:
White
Treixadura*
Palomino
Torrontés
Godello
Macabeo
Red
Caiño Tinto*
Garnacha Tintorera
Ferrón
Sousón
Ribeira Sacra DO
The Romans built steep terraced vineyards that most of the vines of the region are planted to.
Named "Sacra" because of the churches/monasteries that surround the region.
Located along the Miño and Sil rivers
Sub Zones:
Soil:
Alluvial over Slate
Main Grapes:
White
Albariño*
Godello*
Treixadura
Loureira
Torrontés
Red
Mencía*
Merenzao
Brancellao
Sousón
Caiño Tinto