Ruta do Viño A walk through the vineyards
Vineyards define the landscape and traditions of As Rías Baixas to the point of becoming a way of life to which the door is opened through the Ruta do Viño. The aim is to offer travellers a complete enogastronomic experience while immersing themselves in this historic culture.
The Rías Baixas is a privileged region for vine growing. Its mild climate, its irregular orography exposed to the Atlantic winds and its sandy soils result in wines of excellent quality. The vineyards of Pontevedra also grow surrounded by a rich heritage and magnificent landscapes that give the wines character and pleasant nuances in the mouth. These wines are unmistakable for their fruity aromas, freshness and characteristic acidity. The quality of Albariño, its flagship, has made it one of the great wines of the world.
Visits to centenary manor houses, protected historical sites, vineyards that slope down to the sea and sunset tastings will leave a deep impression on those who decide to experience the winemaking process from the inside.
The commitment to native grapes is due to the province's winemaking tradition, which has been able to adapt to the new times to consolidate As Rías Baixas as the area with the highest production in Galicia. Today, its sights are also set on foreign markets and three out of every ten bottles already go abroad, with the US as the main export destination.
Albariño, the king
The albariño grape is the queen of the Denomination of Origin, the most characteristic and with which 95% of the production corresponds. As preferred white varieties, the white loureira or marqués grape, treixadura and caíño blanco are also recognised. In reds, caíño tinto, espadeiro, loureira tinta and sousón are chosen.
The raw material comes from 5 cultivation sub-areas that extend from the Portuguese border to the border with Compostela. They are O Salnés, Condado do Tea, O Rosal, Soutomaior and Ulla. These are lowlands, mostly close to the sea or located in the lower reaches of the river courses. More than six thousand winegrowers are responsible for the careful care of the vineyards, which cover around 4,000 hectares of land. This "ouro da terra", in the words of Ramón Cabanillas, is finally bottled in 180 wineries ready to welcome those in search of new experiences for the palate.
To fully enjoy a good Albariño, the best thing to do is to pair it with some of the excellent products of Pontevedra's gastronomy and let yourself be enveloped by the stunning landscapes that characterise the province. When it comes to serving it, the ideal temperature to appreciate all its nuances is 10º C. Rías Baixas D.O. wines combine perfectly with fish, seafood, rice dishes and cheeses.
Visit the wineries and vineyards of the Ruta do Viño, enjoy the tastings and complete your experience in the accommodation, restaurants and other establishments also associated with this fantastic itinerary.
Get to know the wine culture of Rías Baixas!
Check here the list of partner establishments of the Ruta do Viño.