Steeply sloping vineyards on the banks of a river in the Spanish wine region of Ribeira Sacra in Galicia

DO Ribeira Sacra

Key Points

Grape varieties: loads of native varieties but the main list includes Mencía, Merenzao, Brancellao, Sousón, Godello, Loureira, Treixadura, Caíño Tinto, Longo and Bravo
Hectares planted: 1,276 Hectares
Grape growers: 2,291
Wineries: 89

Map of Spanish wine region Ribeira Sacra

About Ribeira Sacra

Ribeira Sacra is one of five Denominaciones de Origen in Galicia (the others are Rías Baixas, Ribeiro, Valdeorras and Monterrei), and the only one specialising in red wines. Its 1,200 hectares span the provinces of Lugo and Ourense, and are divided into five distinct sub-zones: Amandi, Chantada, Quiroga-Bibei, Ribeiras (literally "banks of…") do Miño y Ribeiras do Sil. "Heroic viticulture" is a phrase that often gets bandied about when talking about Ribeira Sacra, and it’s true that the vineyards that seem to hang from the vertiginous banks of the Sil and Miño rivers that dissect the region, demand winemakers with good balance and a head for heights!

Despite its wine history stretching back centuries and the region’s importance as a centre for religious orders in the Middle Ages, Ribeira Sacra has traditionally struggled to make its mark outside Galicia, and it’s only relatively recently that established winemakers from other parts of Spain like Raúl Pérez, Eulogio Palmares or Xurxo Alba have fallen under the region’s spell and started their own winemaking projects there. This kind of artisanal revival makes a virtue out of adversity, exploiting Ribeira’s diverse array of soil types, altitudes and orientations and working with its native grape varieties to produce terroir-driven wines with a strong sense of place. Critics and wine-lovers have followed and Ribeira’s glorious Atlantic reds with their vibrant fruit and fresh acidity are gaining new fans every day.

The terrain of Ribeira Sacra

The rugged terrain in this corner of Galicia makes for very labour-intensive vineyards, and growers traditionally struggled to make a profit. Even today, the high costs of farming on such steep slopes put many off - it’s estimated that recovering 1 hectare of vineyard can cost anywhere between 80-100,000 - and the larger wineries tend to steer clear.

There’s lots of debate among the region’s producers as to which factors are the most important when considering which vineyard plots are the best. Some favour orientation, arguing for example that east-facing plots are preferable for catching the early morning sun and burning off any frost, while others argue that with climate change raising average temperatures north-facing slopes, traditionally avoided because they were too exposed, are gaining in popularity. Soils too are varied, with lots of granite, slate and schist and a high mineral presence.

The climate of Ribeira Sacra

Despite its position in the northwest of Spain and proximity to the Atlantic, the climate of Ribeira Sacra can vary greatly from one sub-zone to the next, with some more continental aspects such as long, hot summers and relatively mild autumns. But rainfall, as in the rest of Galicia, is relatively high.

The grapes of Ribeira Sacra

Mencía remains the most widely planted red variety, although many of the new wave Ribeira producers put the focus on less well-known, native varieties like Brancellao or Merenzao, different versions of Caíño, Sousón or Espadeiro. White wines tend to be made from better known varieties familiar in other Galician DOs like Godello, Treixadura, Torrontés, Loureira or even Albariño.

In summary

Wild and rugged, this corner of northwest Spain is a paradise for those looking to get away from the noise and bustle of urban life, and for wine-lovers too it’s got a lot to offer. Twists and turns mean it’s hard to get to by road, but once you’re here the dramatic river valleys with their beautifully terraced vineyards demand to be enjoyed slowly. Wine production in Ribeira Sacra is small-scale; 20% of the DO’s wineries make less than 5,000 bottles per vintage, and the region’s reds make a wonderful introduction to some of Spain’s most exciting native grapes.

A vineyard in the autumn in the Spanish wine region of Alicante

DO Alicante

DO Alicante has had official status since the early part of the 20^th century. But, as elsewhere in Spain, in the last ten years the region has undergone something of a renaissance.

An old white cottage on the brow of a hill at sunset in the Spanish wine region of Bierzo

DO Bierzo

Sitting in the northwest corner of Castilla y León and bordering Galicia and Asturias to the north, Bierzo is something of a transition zone between the Atlantic and the Spanish interior.

VT Cadiz

VT Cádiz is currently Spain’s fourth largest IGP (Indicación Geográfica Protegida) and 80% of the production is centred on white wines made predominantly with the Palomino Fino grape.

A vineyard at Spanish Cava producers Bodegas Grimau

DO Cava

Cava is Spain’s most well-known sparkling wine. What many don't know is that it's also a DO in its own right. But unlike wines from other DOs, Cava is not made in just one geographical area.

A landscape shot of the Serra Llarga in the Spanish wine region Costers del Segre

DO Costers del Segre

Costers del Segre is one of ten DOs in Catalunya. The name literally translates as "banks of the Segre" which is one of the many tributaries which feed into the Ebro river.

A vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Jumilla

DO Jumilla

Sitting in a hot and dry corner of Castilla La Mancha, Jumilla is a great place to explore fuller-bodied reds made from the Monastrell grape. But it also offers plenty of fresher wines from higher altitude plots that are well worth investigating.

A vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Manchuela

DO Manchuela

Sandwiched between the coastal regions to the East and central Spain to the West, Manchuela has a long history of winemaking. It's famed for the Bobal grape, once a stalwart of bulk wine but now increasingly used to make some exceptional single varietal wines.

Barells in a wine cellar in the Spanish wine region of Sanlucar de Barrameda

DO Manzanilla - Sanlúcar de Barrameda

In 1935, Spain’s first Denominación de Origen, D.O. Jerez-Xéres-Sherry y Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda was created and then in 1964, in recognition of Manzanilla’s distinct profile, the separate DO Manzanilla – Sanlúcar de Barrameda was formed.

A vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Montsant with mountains in the background

DO Montsant

Montsant is defined by mountains hills, ridges and slopes. The region can be divided into sub-zones from warmer, lower stretches in the south-west as the land falls away towards the Ebro river and higher, wilder areas to the north.

A vineyard at Bodegas Grimau in the Spanish wine region of Penedes

DO Penedès

Penedès is best known for Cava which was essentially invented by the Codorniu family in the 1870s in the town of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia. But it's also worth trying some of the region's wonderful aromatic white wines.

A vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Priorat

DOQ Priorat

Priorat is one of the 10 DOs in Catalunya and, along with DOCa Rioja, it’s one of the two wine-growing regions in Spain with "DO+" which means that, like Rioja, the rules are that little bit stricter for wines made here.

A vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Rías Baixas

DO Rías Baixas

Rias Baixas is home to the excellent Albariño wines, but has a growing number of other interesting grapes to discover. With thousands of small growers and producers, making wonderful artisanal wines, it's definitely worth exploring.

A vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Ribeiro

DO Ribeiro

Ribeiro is the oldest of the five DOs in Galicia. With vineyards grouped along the three valleys formed by the Miño, Avia and Arnoia rivers, Ribeiro is well-known as for its wonderful, blended white wines made from native local grapes.

An aerial view of the River Duero in Spain

DO Ribera del Duero

After Rioja, Ribera del Duero is one of Spain’s best known wine regions. But despite a long winegrowing history, the region was only awarded DO status in 1982.

A landscape view of a vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Rioja

DOCa Rioja

One of the world’s best known and best loved wine regions, Rioja was one of the first regions in Spain to become an official DO almost a hundred years ago. Today, it’s on a par with other great wine-producing regions of the world.

Close up of vines in a vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Rueda

DO Rueda

Like many of Spain’s DOs, Rueda is an historic wine region with winemaking traditions that stretch back to the Middle Ages. The Rueda DO was created in the early 1980s, and these days is famed for its white wines made from the Verdejo grape.

DO Sierras de Málaga

Spread across the province of Málaga, DO Sierras de Málaga has a winemaking histoiry that dates back to the time of the Phoenicians in around 800 BC.

A vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Somontano

DO Somontano

Somontano’s broad identity makes it a comfortable entry-point for international wine lovers looking to familiarise themselves with Spanish wine. But it’s also a region with a deep winemaking history and lots of local colour and diversity.

DO Terra Alta

Terra Alta is a county defined by its Mediterranean agriculture. Covering some twelve towns with a combined population of around 12,000 people, the plains, plateaus and valleys are planted with olive and almond trees, but above all vines.

A vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Toro

DO Toro

Toro is "the other DO on the Duero", sandwiched between the more famous Ribera del Duero to the east and the Douro region just across the border in Portugal.

An aerial shot of vineyards in the Spanish wine region of Vinos de Madrid

DO Vinos de Madrid

Despite its best efforts, the Vinos de Madrid region is still relatively unknown even for wine drinkers in Madrid. Which is a real shame because the DO has got a lot to shout about.