Rías Baixas – Cool colorful Spain
Based in Valencia, I regularly head out to get to get to know the wine regions of Spain. Travelling through the ever-changing landscape in this vast country, past ancient cities and small old villages gives me a great sense of freedom. Unbelievable how varied Spain is! This is also how I ended up in… Rías Baixas, a wine region in Galicia in the upper North West of Spain. Below is a brief impression.
Rías Baixas in a nutshell
Rías Baixas (lower streams or rivers) is located at the Atlantic coast in the autonomous region of Galicia. This region is called land of thousand rivers. Travelling through the coastal zone you will note the rías: wide water masses close to the sea that become smaller inland as they meet the river. Think of small examples of the Norwegian fjords. The region has many of these close to the coast and they are full of marine life, well suited for the fishing industry. You will also find beautiful beaches, perfectly fit for water activities and tourism.
The Rías Baixas wine region
Rias Baixas is one of the 5 DO’s in Galicia. The other are Ribeiro, Ribeira Sacra, Valdeorras and Monterrei. Rias Baixas has around 4,000 hectares of vineyards, making it the largest DO in Galicia however in Spain it is still one of many smaller wine regions. The vineyards are often spread across smaller pieces of land and typical for the region is the way the vines are planted: on so called parrals which are thin granite constructions that keep the vines and grapes high above the ground for proper ventilation. This ventilation is crucial since we are in one of the wettest areas in Spain due to the close by Atlantic and as a result grapes are subject to rot if over-exposed to humidity.
We are in the green part of the peninsula and this is different Spain! Beautiful but often wet so you will need to bring your rain coat here! The cooler climate with lower average temperatures also leads to quite different wines compared to the rest of Spain: A lighter style with a notable freshness.
Cambados, a historic wine center
The municipality of Cambados is located in one of the 5 subzones of Rias Baixas called Val do Salnés. This is the oldest sub-zone of Rias Baixas and also the birthplace of the albariño, by far the most important grape here. Cambados is situated between Santiago de Compostela in the north and Vigo in the south and has a number of historical buildings. On the main square in a building from the 16th century you will find the Palacio de Fefinañes, producer of fine albariño that is definitely worth visiting. Another place to visit are the remains of the Church of Santa Mariña Dozo, a gothic church that was built in the 15th century and that is now a national heritage monument.
If you are lucky to visit the region at a time the sun is shining, for sure you will note the very beautiful colors here. The super blue skies, the clear water, yellow sandy beaches and green vegetation make this a region full of color contrasts that is ideal for photographers, hikers, nature lovers and any combination of these. Moreover, though loved by many Spanish people for spending the summer and despite the busy city of Santiago de Compostela being near, in general this is still a tranquil region without overtourism.
Wine & food of the region
In Rías Baixas the albariño grape is king. This white grape is suited to resist the challenging wet climate in Galicia due to its thick skin and it is believed to be native to the region. It gives fresh, dry wines with high acidity, notes of citrus fruit as well as floral aromas. Wines can have their own accent depending on the sub-region, so as a wine lover exploring the region you might want to compare a wine from for example Val do Salnés (the coolest sub-zone) with Condado do Tea in the south (the warmest sub-zone). The wines can be 100% albariño or a blend with other local grapes included such as Loureiro, Treixadura or Caíño Blanco.
As the wines from this coastal region match extremely well with the local seafood the wine is sometimes referred to as ‘wine of the sea’. As mentioned, the rías are full of sea life so fresh sea food does not need to travel far and there is ample opportunity to taste the local specialties many of which I can recommend: Crab, shrimps, mussels, lobster, scallops, oysters, octopus, squid as well as white fish. This is an ideal place for foodies and wine lovers.
Location
Recommended sites
Consejo Regulador de la Denominacion de Origen Rias Baixas
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Spain is home to many beautiful, but also lesser-known quality wines. With Ivan Wines, I focus on discovering and promoting these wines, the makers and the regions. I am a Dutch Registered Vinologist and WSET Level 3 Wines Certified, and I organize tastings and wine tours from Valencia.
