The wines from this area are wines with a history, traditionally made from the Albariño vine stock.

The strict controls to which the  “Rías Baixas” wines are submitted ensure that quality is kept high. The Regulatory Council makes regular inspections of each vineyard.

 At  harvest time, the Council inspectors check all grapes entering the wineries to make sure that they come only from registers vineyards and the amount sent in tallies with the declared capacity of each vineyard . Then, the volume of the wine stored in the cellars is recorded and regularly checked and samples are analyzed. Only wines passing these tests are granted the honor of bearing the Rías Baixas distinguishing label.

The Albariño wines are very fruity, dry white wines with a pungent aroma. They go perfectly with fish and  shellfish  as well as with the typical Spanish “tapas” – fried fish, smoked fish canapés, grilled sardines, prawns in  garlic sauce or any other similar  dish.

The Albariño family comprises four types of wine. In each of the three areas: Val do Salnés, Condado de Tea and O Rosal wines with slightly different characteristics are produced.

In addition to pure Albariño wines (those using only this grape variety), which are produced throughout the area, each of the three districts is authorized to produce wines in accordance with the following standards:

Val do Salnés: A minimum of 70% of Albariño and the rest of any of the protected varieties.

Condado de Tea: Albariño and Treixadura grapes forming 70% with the rest coming form the other authorized varieties.

O Rosal: Albariño and Loureira grapes forming 70% with the rest from the other accepted varieties.

APROVED wHITE GRAPE VARIETIES:

      ALBARIÑO: White. Native to Galicia. With small, very sweet, glyceric berries which produce high quality wines. It is the basic grape of the D.O. Rías Baixas. There has been a dramatic increase in the cultivation of this grape over the last few years.

     LOUREIRA: White. High quality Galician grape, which creates very aromatic wines.  Authorised in denominations of Rías Baixas and Ribeiro. The is also a red Loureira, but it is very rare.

      TORRONTES: White. Originally from Galicia. It produces wines of little body and good acidity, with considerable personality and an intense bouquet. It can be found throughout Galicia and Córdoba.

     TREIXADURA: White. Indegenous to Galicia. It is one of the most  aromatic varieties of Galician grape and its cultivation is being encouraged in a number of areas.