What are the wines like?
Wines from this region are typically young, moderately acidic and light with exquisite fruity, floral bouquets. The white wines stand out, which are produced using Torrontés, Loureira, Godello, Albariño and Treixadura varieties, this last being the favourite variety of the Ribeiro district. In addition to producing a pleasant, delicate sensation, they pair perfectly with shellfish, fish, mild cheeses and cured meats. Ribeiro red wines represent less than 15% of the Designation of Origin production, but demand for them continues to grow. They are very intense, flavourful with a hint of acidity and bouquets of red and black fruits, violets, rose petals and liquorice. They are ideal for pairing with meat dishes, pasta, mushrooms, pulses, stews and cured cheeses. Finally, you will discover “tostado” wine, which is naturally sweet and produced using juice from the best overripe grapes. Its production is limited and laborious, which makes it a rare treat.
Tourists walking among the Ribeiro vineyards
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Asociación Ruta do Viño do Ribeiro
What I can find
The Ribeiro area has a rich heritage: you will be able to stay in hundred-year-old villas and visit Baroque and Romanesque churches, forts, pazos (traditional Galician country houses), Jewish quarters, raised granaries and cruceiros (stone crosses). There are spectacular landscapes formed by forests of oak trees, chestnut trees and pines; river canyons and rolling vineyards to stroll through. The area has excellent cuisine and popular festivities where you can experience its hospitality. The Festa da Istoria in Ribadavia (the last weekend in August, when the town transforms into an authentic Medieval town), the Festa do Pulpo in O Carballiño (second Sunday in August) and the Festa da Vendimia Wine Harvest Festival in Leiro (last Sunday of August) stand out. Areas for practising sports: you will find a golf course (in San Amaro), a water sports club (in Castrelo de Miño) and you will be able to explore the areas for horse riding (in Arnoia), rock climbing (in Carballeda de Avia and Leiro), hiking or travel down the estuary by bicycle or catamaran (in Cortegada and Arnoia). There are thermal spas (such as those in Arnoia, Carballiño, Laias Caldaria, Berán and Prexigueiro) in which you can take care of your health or enjoy a wine therapy treatment, relaxing de-stressing programmes and other activities. For more information, enquire at any of the tourist offices.
Spa on the Ribeiro wine route
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Asociación Ruta do Viño do Ribeiro
How to get here
The Ribeiro Wine Route is located in south-eastern Galicia in the province of Ourense. If you would like to travel there by plane, Vigo International Airport lies 60 kilometres away from Ribadavia (the so-called “capital of Ribeiro“) and Santiago de Compostela International Airport is 110 kilometres away. Then you just need to take the A-52 motorway, which passes by Ribadavia and can be found 28 kilometres away from the city of Ourense. This motorway connects with the A-6, which runs to Madrid. From Portugal, the road entering into Galicia is the AP-9 motorway.If you prefer to travel by train, Ribadavia itself has a station that has connections running every day from large cities, such as Ourense, Vigo, Pontevedra (all three in Galicia), Zamora and Ponferrada (in Castile and Leon) and Madrid.In Ribadavia, you will also find a bus station, which has several departures every day to cities such as Ourense and Vigo.Arnoia, Beade, Boborás, Carballeda de Avia, Carballiño, Castrelo de Miño, Cenlle, Cortegada, Leiro, Punxín, Ourense, Ribadavia, San Amaro and Toén are the municipalities included in this route. There, you will find an interesting cultural heritage (don't miss the Cathedral of Ourense or the cobbled, medieval streets of Ribadavia), natural routes, spas, accommodation (including a monastery and an abbey), restaurants... Use the map on the page to discover all the destinations that make up the Ribeiro Wine Route.
Tourists with a glass of Ribeiro wine
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Asociación Ruta do Viño do Ribeiro
