Joaquín Hidalgo Visits Ribeira Sacra: An Encounter with the History and Diversity of Galician Wine
Joaquín Hidalgo, a renowned wine critic and editor for South America and Spain at Vinous.com, visited Ribeira Sacra this week, exploring vineyards and wineries. He also attended the Regulatory Council of the Ribeira Sacra Denomination of Origin where he conducted a tasting. During his visit, Hidalgo had the opportunity to sample the region’s wines and share his impressions of this historic wine area. In an interview conducted at the Regulatory Council, Hidalgo expressed his admiration for the historical richness and diversity of Ribeira Sacra. He highlighted the value of the region’s historical grape varieties, commenting: “This is a region that has a lot of history to simply narrow its varietal register. Betting on a heart of Mencía and other varieties to complete seems like a very good idea. And then, if you want, you can complete with other varieties, like 100% Brancellao wines, which is what surprised me in terms of wine style and gives it another depth, opening up other proposals.” With a solid background in Oenology and Journalism, Joaquín Hidalgo combines his technical knowledge with a passion for communication. Residing in Buenos Aires, Hidalgo writes about wine and gastronomy for various media outlets and is the co-founder of vinomanos.com, the first mobile guide to Argentine wines. His collaboration with Vinous.com, one of the most influential and respected wine publications worldwide, allows him to provide reviews and news on releases from the world’s leading wine regions. Hidalgo highlighted the diversity and potential of Ribeira Sacra, stating: “It is small in terms of surface area but very diverse in terms of possibilities, with a lot of diversity.” His visit to the region allowed him to overcome previous prejudices, discovering a wide variety of wines. In this regard, he noted: “When you are here, there is another emotion (...) being here changes your palate (...) you take the landscape and a different flavor with you” marked by tradition and the place. He also emphasized that the challenge in Ribeira Sacra is not viticultural but oenological, mentioning that thanks to both local and foreign ideas, he has found wines “with greater finesse while reflecting well-crafted rusticity.” To conclude, Hidalgo indicated that the future challenge for Ribeira Sacra lies in building a solid international image. Given the great diversity and the presence of small producers, it is crucial to find an identity with which the region can present itself to the world. Joaquín Hidalgo’s visit to Ribeira Sacra not only highlights the quality and diversity of its wines but also the region’s commitment to tradition and oenological innovation.