Ribeira sacra - vine is off to a good start - mencia already showing flowers
This year in our more sheltered position the mencia is off to a rampant start.
In our area - Ribeira Sacra - it is mainly the old grape variety of Mencia (red) that is grown with some whites like Albariño and Godello thrown in for good measure.
Along the river Mino and Sil steep terraces on partially slate and very well draining soil give ideal growing conditions. The not unusual morning mist together with this years rain, falling just when the growing got going, is a good start for a potentially great year.
I’m not a connoisseur of wines, but even for my uneducated tongue the taste of fruit, notably black berry with overtones of minerals, provide a great every day drinking experience.
There are well established bodegas (here called Adega) around and like in all wine growing areas the experience of tasting can vary from harsh and just oaky to smooth and fruity.
Even the unlabelled bottle, usually served to the “menu al dia”, can make you sit back and dream.
There are some “new kids on the block”, Adegas who subscribe to the new methods of vine making as well as long established Adegas where you can only get bottles if you happen to know someone who knows someone….
Speaking of bottles. I have now found a good Adega (Canabal) with a great smooth and fruity Mencia, usually about 1 year old, sold in 15 or 20 liter bags. This is a great solution for keeping and serving ones every day vine. You can have bottles as well with a nice lable, but hey - I don’t drink labels.
Instead of opening 15 bottles and always forget one or two that are already opened, I now have 15liter bags sitting in our cool larder next to the kitchen. Thus one can just get a small glass if and when desired or fill a carafe (or two or three…) when visitors and friends are around. As no air can get in it’s easy to keep, it’s good for the environment as instead of 15 bottles and corks just a carton and a bag is left. Standing in front of the glass container with a boot full of clinking bottles does draw the odd look!
You wouldn’t want to keep it for years in a bag, but my preference are the honest, relatively fresh, local wines that have no chemicals and are not forced in any way.
From this to that - lets have a great summer - please…
As said looks great so far - just hope we get more than last year when due to the long wet and cold spell up to end of May, mildew was a huge problem and at least in our area the grapes did not set profusely.
Expat
PS If you want to know more about the Ribeira Sacra red’s here is a good start Wine News Ribeira Sacra
PPS If you like to know more or vist us and taste - Just contact us here Life in Galicia Contact
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