Wine Tastings Rías Baixas

More information on Rías Baixas

If you’re looking for a destination where you can combine winery visits and strolls among vineyards with long walks on vast and sheltered beaches, then Rías Baixas is the place for you. The territory of Rías Baixas stretches between the provinces of Pontevedra and A Coruña, along the Atlantic coast of Galicia, in the area enclosed between the outskirts of Santiago de Compostela and where the River Mio meets the Atlantic Ocean and the Portuguese border. Rías Baixas literally means “lower estuaries”, and its territory boasts a singular landscape, characterized by beautiful bays with white sandy beaches, uncontaminated nature, and small villages surrounded by vineyards.

Your wine tastings in Rías Baixas will be mainly centered on white wines, as the region’s production is almost entirely focused on white wines. Winemaking in Rías Baixas, like in many other parts of Europe, is believed to have started during the Roman occupation. Thanks to its unique coastal climate, its wines are usually characterized by fresh, crisp, and aromatic notes. The DO Rías Baixas allows 8 different types of wine, depending on the area and blend of varieties used, including as well a red and a sparkling type.

Which food to taste in Rías Baixas?

Besides its wines, the traditional cuisine of Rías Baixas represents one of its main hallmarks. So, on top of wine tastings and winery visits, make sure to indulge in the local cuisine during your next trip to Rías Baixas! Specialties from the area include pulpo a la gallega (octopus with olive oil and paprika), Galician empanadas, and, of course, a wide variety of fresh seafood, ranging from spider crabs to lobsters, mussels, clams, oysters, and scallops.

Which wines to taste in Rías Baixas?

The main protagonist of any wine tasting in Rías Baixas is Albariño, the king variety of the area. This white grape variety finds in the cool Atlantic climate of Rías Baixas the perfect conditions to thrive and nowadays represents 96% of all plantings. Other common white grape varieties include Loureira Blanca (Marqués), Treixadura, Caiño Blanco, Torrontés, and Godello. The black grape varieties found in the area are instead Caiño Tinto, Castañal, Espadeiro, Loureira Tinta, Sousón, Mencía, Brancellao, and Dozal.

Which is the best season to visit Rías Baixas?

The best period of the year to organize wine tastings and winery visits in Rías Baixas is between late spring and early autumn, as the area enjoys an oceanic climate characterized by mild, windy, and rainy winters.

What things to do in Rías Baixas?

While the area of Rías Baixas is most famous for its wines and gastronomy, wine tastings and winery visits shouldn't be the only planned activities of your trip. While in the area, we recommend visiting the incredible Cíes Islands with the famous Rodas beach, the island of Arousa and its National Park, the town of Pontevedra, and the small municipality of A Guarda.