Bodegas Gallegas, `Silandeiro` Sobre Lías Rías Baixas Albariño

Bodegas Gallegas, in the Salnés Valley of Rías Baixas, is owned and run by brother and sister duo Manuel and Myriam Vazquez. Their Galician winemaker, Olga Verde Vieitez, is an ex-sommelier who honed her skills in Madrid, Chile and New Zealand. She works closely with 250 local growers who farm 120 hectares, supplementing Gallegas’ own 140 hectares in the subzones of Condado do Tea, Val do Salnés and Ribeira do Ulla.

The coastal Rías Baixas region has the highest levels of rainfall in Spain, and the Albariño grape, which is late ripening with thick skins, is ideally suited to the climate. Bodegas Gallegas is just five kilometres from the ocean, which is reflected in both their striking maritime-themed packaging and the freshness of their wines.

The different Rías Baixas subzones, at various elevations between 20-200 metres above sea level, produce wines of subtle diversity. The Salnés Valley, which hugs the coastline, has average temperatures of 26-28°C and produces the most aromatic Albariños. In Condado do Tea, which borders Portugal, the higher ripening temperatures, around 30-34°C, result in lower aromatic profiles but fuller-bodied wines. In Ribeira do Ulla, the coolest and driest subzone further inland to the north, the wines display greater structure and acidity. Bodegas Gallegas’ vineyards are all farmed sustainably and guyot trained with a vine density of 1,000-1,500 plants per hectare to ensure even, healthy ripening. The soils are free-draining sandy loams.

Each plot of Albariño is vinified separately in stainless steel tanks. This allows the different micro-climates to be blended, producing a stylistically consistent wine. Both Bodegas Gallegas’ ‘Sentidiño’ and ‘Silandeiro’ are made from 100% Albariño grapes. ‘Sentidiño’ is a Galician word meaning common sense and is used by local fishermen who have the common sense not to take the wild Atlantic waters for granted. This wine is sourced from young vines grown in the three subzones and offers a youthful, vibrantly aromatic expression, combining tangerine, jasmine and grassy notes. ‘Silandeiro’, meaning ‘silence’ in the Galician dialect, is sourced from 30-year-old vines in the Salnés Valley and aged on its lees in stainless steel for between two and three months. The resulting wine displays a ripe, punchy lemon and peach character alongside an appetising depth and saline finish.