THE LANDS OF OUR WINES

In our case, the grapes come from vineyards located on the slopes of the valleys around the Támega river and its tributaries, more specifically in the town of Casas dos Montes, in the municipality of Oímbra, Ourense.

It has a temperate Mediterranean climate with a continental tendency, influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. Its summers are hot and dry while its winters are cold. The area has considerable thermal oscillations, up to 30º during the ripening season. The special microclimate in the area where our vineyards are located, with strong frosts and thermal oscillations of up to 30º during the harvest season, allows for the production of very natural wines to the extent that the phytosanitary treatments applied to the vineyards are reduced.

There are three types of soils in these plots in the region: slate and schist soils, which are ideal during dry seasons, provide aromas in red wines; granite and sandy soils, which come from the degradation of granite rocks, have low pH, are suitable for white wines; and sedimentary soils, which are complex due to the mixture of materials.

As a result of its soils and climate, in this designation of origin we obtain wines with specific attributes, with character and that express the typicality of the area: very elegant, fruity, glyceric and full-bodied wines.

The plots where the vineyards are located are specifically in the Vilanova de Arousa area, in a total of 22 small plots.

The soils of these plots are granite, in addition to metamorphic rocks. The sub-zone to which these plots belong is characterized by being located on land with quaternary deposits that can be alluvial or alluvial-colluvial. It is also common for there to be outcrops of gravel, sand and clay.

Wines from grapes from this area differ from those from other sub-zones in that they are more saline on the palate and have a more pronounced acidity than those from more inland and hotter sub-zones in summer.

Winters in the Rías Baixas Designation of Origin are dominated by Atlantic storms from the West and Southwest, with warm fronts of often tropical air. These bring heavy rainfall and are what determine mild and even warm temperatures, with very little marked differences between day and night. Winters are mild, with rainy springs and little risk of frost. During the summer season, rainfall is infrequent and abundant, with mild temperatures. In the autumn months, storms are very abundant, leading to a very rainy season.

The orography in this area can be defined as a coastal plain. It is a factor of great influence with regard to the tendency to erosion and the degree of hydromorphism. From a topographical point of view, the most significant thing about the Val do Salnés sub-zone is the predominance of lowlands. The most developed coastal plain in all of Galicia is found there. Only in small residual reliefs or towards the periphery do altitudes exceed 100 m.

In our case, the grapes come from a selection of plots located around the Castrelo de Miño reservoir, a few meters from its banks.

The climate is the key factor that determines the agronomy, varieties and style of the wines. The D.O. Ribeiro is located in a transition zone of Galicia with a Mediterranean character softened by the Atlantic influence due to the short distance from the ocean. In fact, this distance should imply a greater Atlantic character of the environment, but the orography of mountain ranges that limits the denomination to the west and north, exerts an important protective effect, thus generating a viticulture where alcoholic ripening develops parallel to phenolic ripening, preserving a balanced freshness provided by natural acidity and with a dominance of tartaric over malic. The slightly continental character, in conjunction with the dominant air currents, causes a significant thermal difference between day and night, which favors slow ripening, respecting the aromatic component and natural freshness. The maritime influence that penetrates through the Miño river basin creates bands of climatic ecotonia on the slopes, generating a greater Atlantic character as the altitude increases, which limits cultivation to approximately 450 meters for the varieties grown in the Designation of Origin.

In terms of data, the average annual temperature of the DO Ribeiro is 14.5 ºC, with an average annual rainfall of 950 mm and with 1915 hours of sunshine per year.

Most of the soils on these plots develop from granitic materials, with loamy-sandy textures and to a lesser extent sandy-loamy. We also find soils of metamorphic schist materials, and those developed from sedimentary materials with more loamy textures. The cultivated soils have an average effective depth that ranges between 70 and 100 cm. Their high sand content, especially in the surface horizon, contrasts with the low clay content, below 20%. They are normally acidic soils, poor in organic matter and with a calcium content that tends to be low.

Our Treixadura wine stands out for its elegance and subtlety, the aromas of ripe fruit and fresh fruit, floral notes, honey, aromatic herbs and balsamic notes. On the palate it is balanced, fine and delicate. A harmonious, fresh, aromatic wine with good persistence.