Valdeorras
Valdeorras, the province of Ourense’s easternmost region, is situated in Galicia, near the province of León, in north-western Spain. The geological history of the region has meant that a large part of its soil is made up of slate, quartzite and schist. Over the last 2,500 million years, Valdeorras has undergone numerous climate changes and glacial phases which left their mark on the mountainous areas, transforming it into a unique natural landscape, formation of fluvial terraces and sheer narrow river channels. The richness of the natural resources and the fertility of its soil has made Valdeorras an ideal place for people to settle over the ages. Proof of man’s ancient presence here are the megalithic remains to be seen in the Enciña da Lastra mountain range, as well as cave paintings and the petroglyphs of Valdegodos, Petín and San Esteban de A Rúa Vella.
DISCOVER
The natural environment
D.O. (Denomination of Origin) Valdeorras has a large diversity of soils for the surface area of vineyards it hosts; 1300 hectares.
The river Sil crosses the region from east to west, generating a symmetrically-shaped valley: steep slopes on the left bank and more gentle slopes on the right bank, essentially, in the borough councils of O Barco, A Rúa and Vilamartín.
Other rivers with a lesser volume of flow are the Xares, Bibei, Cigüeño and Casaio; in O Bolo, Larouco, Rubiá and Carballeda they fall short of forming valleys but provide sufficient slopes to cultivate vines, and terraces can be seen along the banks of the Bibei and Xares.
These southern-facing soils have always been deemed ideal for growing vines, as they are less fertile but drain well, which guarantees a more moderate yield and grapes which mature suitably.
Climate
Mediterranean-continental (with Atlantic influence).
- Cold winter.
- Warm summer.
- Mild autumn and spring.
Ideal climate for high-quality dry wines, optimum at over 450m above sea level. Valdeorras is ideal as the entire region stands at between 300m and 700m above sea level and, therefore, falls within Winkler’s zone 1.
The wines
Varieties of native grapes
White varieties
Made from white varieties (Preferential: Godello, Loureira, Treixadura, Dona Branca, Albariño, Torrontes and Lado. Authorised: Palomino white)
If it is made:
- VALDEORRAS GODELLO: whit 100% Godello.
- VALDEORRAS NOBLE GRAPE VARIETIES: with a minimum of 85% of preferential varieties.
- VALDEORRAS WHITE: from the preferential or authorised white varieties.
Fizzy wine
A fizzy wine obtained using the traditional method, made with a minimum of 85% Godello grape.
Sweet wine
Naturally sweet wine made from red varieties or from Godello.
Red Varieties;
Red Wines
Made from preferential red grapes (Mencía, Tempranillo, Brancellao, Merenzao, Sousón, Caíño Tinto, Espadeiro and Ferrón), or authorised red grapes (Gran Negro, Garnacha Tintureira and Mouratón).
If it is made:
- VALDEORRAS MENCÍA: with 85% Mencía.
- VALDEORRAS NOBLE GRAPE VARIETIES: with a minimum of 85% of preferential red varieties.
- VALDEORRAS RED: from the preferential or authorised red varieties.
Production
According to the Specification of the D.O. Rías Baixas, the wines produced and produced must pass the verification process of the Regulatory Council. Each item of wine produced in the D.O. Rías Baixas undergoes an exhaustive control, consisting of a chemical and organoleptic analysis.
The types of wines that are distinguished within this denomination are the following:
Controlled production
The different finished red wines abovementioned, and Valdeorras Godello, obtained using grapes from wineries with limited production
Crianza
All types of Valdeorras red and white wines subjected to aging in oak barrels can be labelled, in accordance with current legislation, Barrica, Crianza and Gran Reserva.
The tradition of Valdeorras as a wine-growing regions dates back to the days of the Roman Empire. Aided by the Mediterranean-Atlantic micro-climate, the Romans planted vines and built presses, creating a culture, secular today, which revolved around vineyards and the production of exquisite wines, whose virtues were extolled by pilgrims following the Way of St. James on their journey to Santiago de Compostela.
Ever since that time, the arduous task undertaken by winegrowers and producers would continue to bear its fruit until in 1945 Valdeorras was granted Denomination of Origin status by Ministerial Order. The Entity was born with the vocation of recovering autochthonous varieties such as Godello and Mencia, its main aims being to ensure quality, boost control, facilitate promotion and search for new ways in which to expand and market the product.
oday, winegrowing, and all that it entails, is governed by a Regulatory Council, a body that decides which wines are granted Denomination of Origin status, taking in the winegrowing borough councils of A Rúa, Carballeda de Valdeorras, Larouco, O Barco, O Bolo, Petín, Rubiá and Vilamartín.
The production areas take up a large part of the basins of the rivers Sil, Xares and Bibei. The climate is drier here than in the rest of Galicia, providing a Continental-Atlantic micro-climate. The average temperature is 11ºC and the annual rainfall ranges from 850 to 1.000 mm.