Tasting in the D.O. Ribeira Sacra for the Gallaecia Awards
The headquarters of the Regulatory Council of the D.O. Ribeira Sacra opened a week hosting the tasting for the Gallaecia Awards, organized by the Association of Sommeliers of Galicia, Gallaecia. After the tastings in the D.O. Valdeorras and Monterrei, it was the turn of the D.O. Ribeira Sacra. The next tastings will be in the D.O. Rías Baixas, Ribeiro and spirits and liquors. In the D.O. Ribeira Sacra 96 samples have been presented from 26 wineries, 64 from red wines, 27 from white wines and 5 from rosé wines. The wines belonged to the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 vintages.
13 tasters distributed in two tasting panels, tasted "market wines", purchased directly in stores. The president of the Association of Sommeliers Gallaecia, Aurelio Vázquez, stood out of the 2018 vintage in the D.O. Ribeira Sacra that, "are very fresh wines, with a lot of balance. The truth is that I liked them a lot, both in reds and whites, and the rosés, which are presented as a novelty, are surprising, very rich. The incorporation of other varieties is noticed in the wines and that makes them gain in complexity, something that may be missing in other Denominations. Also these wines are always characterized by their typicity, those particularities that they have according to the sub-zone they come from. "
Luis Paadín
Wines with the best scores will pass to the final tasting of the Gallaecia Distinctions. The Gallaecia Awards have established as one of the best wine contests in the Spanish territory, which means that each year the participation of wines in this event increases, with 1,200 wines tasted.
These tastings are also used to make the "Guide to Wines, Spirits and Wineries of Galicia 2020" by Luis Paadín, where all the wines of each D.O. are referenced, with special attention to the wines tasted and best valued. This year the Guide will be 8 years old and will try to complete the information about the wines, giving information about the municipalities and the origin of the grape. The Guide, of which 2,000 copies will be published, will be released in November. A couple of months before the final tasting of the Gallaecia Awards will be held.