Rías Baixas (wine region)

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Rías Baixas is the name of a Spanish wine region in Galicia . Since 1988 the area has had the status of a DO ( Denominación de origen ). The area is named after the up to 100 meters deep and 37 kilometers long Ria bays on the west coast of Galicia. In the regional language, Galego , Rías Baixas is the name given to a stretch of coast in southwest Galicia. The Atlantic winds cause rainfall of up to 1,300 millimeters per year. This is about three times as much as in the Rioja. The annual average temperature is a maximum of 15 ° C. These are ideal conditions for sparkling and fresh white wines as well as light, fragrant red wines.

The area planted with 2,500 hectares of vineyards is dominated by the white grape variety Albariño . In 2002, around 79,500 hectoliters of wine were produced. Exports go mainly to the United States. The modern Albariño wines can be drunk early, but they also have a good shelf life of two to four years. The wines are very aromatic and are often compared with a wine made from the Viognier grape variety in terms of their full aroma . The palette ranges from apple , pear , apricot and peach notes to citrus fruits, depending on the nature of the soil and the style of development .

You can't get good Rias Baixas wine for less than ten euros per bottle in Germany. The prices are usually 13 to 15 euros (as of 2007).

Names of the wines

  • Rias Baixas : At least 70 percent must be from the varieties Albariño, Treixadura, Loureira and Caiño Blanco.
  • Rias Baixas Albariño : The wine must consist of 100 percent Albariño.
  • Rias Baixas Condado de Tea : All wines must come from the Condado de Tea subzone. The wine consists of at least 70 percent Albariño and Treixadura.
  • Rias Baixas Rosal : All wines must come from the O Rosal subzone. The wine consists of at least 70 percent Albariño and Loureira.
  • Rias Baixas Ribera do Ulla : All wines must come from the Ribera do Ulla subzone. The wine consists of at least 70 percent Albariño.
  • Rias Baixas Salnés : All wines must come from the Salnés subzone. The wine consists of at least 70 percent Albariño.
  • Rias Baixas Barrica : In addition to the DO regulations, it was aged for at least three months in wooden barrels.

Subareas or subzones of the Rías Baixas

  • Val do Salnés (1,487 hectares of vineyards) near the coast north of the city of Pontevedra . This is the real home of the Albariño.
  • Condado de Tea (545 hectares of vineyards) near the border with Portugal near the city of Ponteareas . The mountainous area is north of the Minho region .
  • O Rosal (312 hectares of vineyards) near the coast south of the city of Vigo . This is the warmest region of the Rías Baixas. O Rosal is characterized by many terraced locations.
  • Ribeira do Ulla (46 hectares of vineyards) south of the city of Santiago de Compostela . Mainly red wines come from this region.
  • Soutomaior (19 hectares of vineyards), located on the Verdugo river. Planted exclusively with Albariño.

Grape varieties

literature

  • John Radford: The New Spain. A complete guide to contemporary Spanish Wine. Mitchell Beazley, London 1998, ISBN 1-85732-254-1 .
  • Jan Read: Spain's Wines 2005/06. 7th, revised, updated edition. Hallwag im Gräfe und Unzer Verlag, Munich 2005, ISBN 3-7742-6962-9 .
  • Jeremy Watson: The new & classical Wines of Spain. Montagud Editores, Barcelona 2002, ISBN 84-7212-087-2 .

Web links