#WBC18 Wine Discovery Session: Rias Baixas – @RiasBaixasWines

In this seminar, we’ll explore the latest winemaking techniques and wine styles from Rías Baixas. While the Albariño wines from the region are often bottled and consumed young, this seminar will demonstrate how this world-class variety is benefiting from a range of winemaking styles. Join Guild Somm’s Chief Instructor and Wine Enthusiast’s Sommelier of the Year 2018, Chris Tanghe MS, to learn about the evolution of Albariño from Rías Baixas, including barrel aged and sparkling examples. www.riasbaixaswines.com

Transcript

1. W I N E B L O G G E R S C O N F E R E N C E OCTOBER 5, 2018
2. FIND THE WAY THE PURE CHOICE IN WHITE WINE. RÍAS BAIXAS. ALBARIÑO. FIND THE WAY TO RIAS BAIXAS
3. • Renowned for the Albariño grape, an indigenous variety that produces some of the world’s foremost white wines. • Located in the Galicia region of northwestern Spain – or “Green Spain.” • DO was formally established in 1988. • Unique climate that shares the same mineral-rich soils and cool climate as France’s Loire Valley, New Zealand and Rhine region of Germany. RIAS BAIXAS – WORLD-CLASS WHITE WINES
4. TERRITORIAL DISTRIBUTION OF GALICIAN D.O. Denominación de Origen Monterrei Denominación de Origen Rías Baixas Denominación de Origen Ribeira Sacra Denominación de Origen Ribeiro Denominación de Origen Valdeorras
5. RIBEIRA DO ULLA The newest sub-zone, inland, mostly alluvial soil VAL DO SALNÉS Birthplace of Albariño, the oldest sub-zone with the most wineries and vineyards. Soils are granitic and rocky with alluvial top-soil. Mostly along the Atlantic. Wettest sub-zone with an average temperature of just 55º F. SOUTOMAIOR Located in the hillsides near Ría de Vigo; this is the smallest sub- zone, with light, sandy soils over granite. CONDADO DO TEA Second largest subzone, named after the river Tea, a tributary of the Miño River. Mountainous area along the Miño, warmest, driest subzone, granite-slate soils. O ROSAL Based along the Miño River where it joins the Atlantic, on the border with Portugal. Planted in granite bedrock and alluvial topsoil, the vineyards are terraced along the Miño. The 5 Sub-regions of Rías Baixas CLIMATE AND TERROIR
6. • 99% of all wine produced in Rías Baixas is white. • Albariño represents 97% of plantings • Other top permitted white varieties: • Treixadura • Loureiro • Caiño Blanco • Torrontes • Godello Red varieties • Sousón • Espadeiro • Caiño • Loureira ALBARIÑO AND OTHER VARIETIES THE PURE CHOICE IN WHITE WINE. FIND THE WAY TO RÍAS BAIXAS.
7. PERMITTED WINES • Eight types of wines are permitted: • Rías Baixas Albariño – must be 100% Albariño; sourced from any sub-region • Rías Baixas – 100% sourced from DO Rías Baixas • Rías Baixas Salnés – 100% Salnés • Rías Baixas Condado – 100% Condado • Rías Baixas Rosal – 100% Rosal • Rías Baixas Barrica – wines aged in oak, can be red or white • Rías Baixas Tinto – red wine, less than 1% of production • Rías Baixas Espumoso – sparkling wine, limited production
8. Rías Baixas is Galician for “Lower Rias.” The five rías are: Ría de Muros y Noia, Ría de Arousa, Ría de Pontevedra, Ría de Vigo and Ría de Miño. • Maritime climate with Atlantic influence • Cool with high rainfall • 2,200+ hours of sunshine during peak growing and ripening season. • Hard granitic soils with mineral- rich alluvial top soils • Vines planted between 330 1000 feet CLIMATE AND TERROIR
9. SOIL TYPES
10. VITICULTURAL PRACTICES • Albariño must be planted at the proper height and exposure to ensure even, healthy ripening is essential to quality. • Vines traditionally widely spaced and trained on stone pergolas or “parras,” up to seven feet high • Mostly hand harvested • Yields low ranging from three to five tons per acre
11. The 5 Sub-regions of Rías Baixas RÍAS BAIXAS BY THE NUMBERS Sub-Region Wineries Growers Hectares Parcels Condado de Tea 42 944 983.3 5,022 O Rosal 13 225 546.6 881 Ribeira do Ulla 7 92 177.3 253 Soutomaior 3 17 12.4 49 Val do Salnés 119 4,065 2,301.9 15,426 Total 184 5,343 4,021.5 21,581 • 9,000 acres under vine • 5,000 + growers • 20,000+ individual vineyard parcels situated • 6 Coops + 6 Large holding companies • 184 Bodegas (wineries)
12. WINEMAKING TRENDS AND TECHNIQUES • Careful harvesting and temperature controls • Grapes delivered and pressed quickly to avoid oxidation • Must fermented under controlled temperatures in modern, stainless steel installations • Variety of winemaking techniques include: • Extended lees contact– preserves freshness • Wild yeast fermentations • Barrel fermentation and aging – not common • Malolactic fermentation – used to produce a rounder, softer profile or prevented for a crisper finish
13. 2017 HARVEST Val do Salnés 63.8% Condado do Tea 21.7% O Rosal 11% Ribeira do Ulla 3.3% Soutomaior .2% 2017 Harvest Total (KG): 39,339,272 2016 Harvest Total (KG): 33,404,961 Source: Consejo Regulador Rias Biaxas
14. PRODUCTION LEVELS Country 2016 2015 2014 United States 2,468,535 2,084,956 2,189,258 United Kingdom 1,067,483 991,797 735,680 Germany 524,343 595,847 521,254 TOTAL WORLD WIDE 6,402,703 5,796,409 5,387,285 Export in Liters by the Year • Aprox. 10% increase in World Wide Exports from 2015 to 2016 • Aprox 18% increase in Exports to US from 2015 to 2016 • Since 2011 RB has consistently exported more than 2 million L to US • Total Production: Aprox. 30 million bottles – 8.5 million bottles exported (28%) Source: Consejo Regulador Rias Biaxas
15. INTERESTING FACTS • More than half of the winemakers in Rías Baixas are women. • The Celts settled Galicia in the 11th Century, and strong Irish influences such as the local bagpipes and architecture remain. • Galicia’s capital, Santiago de Compostela, is the final destination of the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage immortalized by the scallop shell, symbol of St. James. • Galicia is renowned for its seafood, including percebes, a barnacle collected by fearless divers on the Costa da Morta (Coast of Death).
16. RIAS BAIXAS – CULTURAL INFLUENCE
17. ALBARIÑO – KEY TASTING NOTES THE PURE CHOICE IN WHITE WINE. FIND THE WAY TO RÍAS BAIXAS. • Great acidity and minerality: Albariño is an amazing food wine! • Highly aromatic: green apple, honeysuckle, citrus, ripe melon, peach, pear and apricot • Rich palate: Fruity, yet bone-dry with bright acidity, mineral overtones and moderate alcohol • Ready-to-drink upon release • Structure and complexity allows for aging
18. ALBARIÑO – SENSORY PROFILE THE PURE CHOICE IN WHITE WINE. FIND THE WAY TO RÍAS BAIXAS.
19. FEATURED WINE – No. 1 Laxas Sensum Brut 2016 Winery: As Laxas Sub-region: Condado do Tea Composition: 100% Albariño Alcohol Percentage: 12.7%
20. FEATURED WINE No. 2 Nora da Neve 2015 Winery: Viña Nora Sub-region: Condado do Tea Composition: 100% Albariño Alcohol Percentage: 13%
21. FEATURED WINE – No. 3 Santiago Ruiz 2017 Winery: Santiago Ruiz Sub-region: O Rosal Composition: 76% Albarifio, 11 % Loureiro, 5% Treixadura, 4% Godello, 4% Caifio Blanco Alcohol Percentage: 13%
22. FEATURED WINE – No. 4 Martín Códax 2016 Winery: Martín Códax Sub-region: Val do Salnés Composition: 100% Albariño Alcohol Percentage: 13%
23. FEATURED WINE – No. 5 Lagar Da Condesa 2016 Winery: Lagar Da Condesa Sub-region: Val do Salnés Composition: 100% Albariño Alcohol Percentage: 12.5%
24. FEATURED WINE – No. 6 Condes de Albarei 2017 Winery: Condes de Albarei 2017 Sub-region: Val do Salnés Composition: 100% Albariño Alcohol Percentage: 13%
25. FEATURED WINE – No. 7 Paco & Lola Vintage 2010 Winery: Condes de Albarei 2017 Sub-region: Val do Salnés Composition: 100% Albariño Alcohol Percentage: 13%
26. FEATURED WINE – No. 8 Pazo de Señorans Seleccion Añada 2010 Winery: Pazo de Señorans Sub-region: Val do Salnés Composition: 100% Albariño Alcohol Percentage: 13%
27. PORTAL BODEGAS www.riasbaixaswines.com + GREGORY + VINE Follow us @RiasBaixasWines
28. #RIASBAIXASWINES