Ribeira Sacra (wine region)

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The valley of the Sil in the Ribeira Sacra region
Vineyard near Sober in the Amandi subzone

Ribeira Sacra (Spanish: holy shore land) is a Spanish wine-growing region in the north-western region of Galicia . Around 1217 hectares of planted vineyards (as of 2006) at altitudes between a maximum of 400 to 500  m are located in a crescent-shaped area on both sides of the Sil and Miño rivers in the northwest of the Province of Ourense and in the southern part of the Province of Lugo .

The wine-growing area is divided into five zones:

  • Chantada on the right bank of the Miño is the northernmost region.
  • Ribeiras do Miño on the left bank of the Miño connects immediately to the south with the Chantada zone.
  • Ribeiras do Sil-Ourense on both sides of the river Sil.
  • Amandi along the Sil lies east of Ribeiras do Sil-Ourense.
  • Quiroga-Bibei is the easternmost zone and lies on both sides of the Sil.

The area has had DO status since September 1997. The regulations are generally closely monitored.

A total of 101 bodegas bottle and market the wines of the 2880 winemakers in the region. Over 90% of the production is intended for the domestic market.

See also the article Viticulture in Spain .

climate

While the zones on the Miño are predominantly influenced by the Atlantic, the sub-zones of the Sil have a much more continental climate. A microclimate with a Mediterranean character prevails in terraced areas facing south-west.

Wines

All types of wine are permitted within the wine-growing region. International efforts are being made to use the fame of the white Godello grape variety , which had almost disappeared due to phylloxera . The sparkling wines of this rare variety have some significance here, although the quality of the variety is not yet being optimally used. Other white varieties are Albariño , Doña Blanca , Treixadura , Loureira and Torrontés . Overall, the white wines make max. 5% of the total production volume. The red wines are made almost exclusively from the Mencía variety and partly blended with Brancellao and Merenzao . In addition, the Tempranillo , Caiño and Sousón grape varieties are also grown. The Mencia variety occupies almost 86% of the area's vineyards.

regulatory authority

Compliance with the production regulations is monitored by the local regulatory authority, Consejo Regulador.

Consejo Regulador DO Ribeira Sacra

Pescaderías, 1

27400 Monforte de Lemos / Lugo

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