Summer is here and that means festival season is in full bloom!
Taste of Dublin has changed venues for this edition and we can't wait to make our way to Merrion Square for this food & wine festival.
Ara Esparza will be at the VIP Area (fancy!) pouring fab wines from the D.O. Rías Baixas and talking All Things Wine.
We have a handy map so you can get a better idea of the region. We did our homework and compiled a list of the wines available to taste along with some info about the winemaking and the tasting notes plus we tell you where you can buy these wines (you are welcome!).
Map of Galicia
The D.O. Rías Baixas is in Galicia and this DO is divided into 5 sub-regions, some of which are mentioned above. Here is a handy map of the wine regions in Galicia so you can get a better idea. Focus on the area of Rías Baixas.
This map is from the Book "Explore Wine Maps, World Edition" by Amble Wine. This book has become our bible for wine maps. If you want yours, we have a discount for you. Enter the code THEWINESNUG at checkout when purchasing at their website.**
Wine Tasting Notes - Taste of Dublin
This is what you can taste at the VIP Tent of Taste of Dublin (scroll to the right to get the full information on these wines from Rias Baixas)
WINE | VINTAGE | GRAPES | SUB-REGION | OUR SUMMARY | ABOUT THE WINE | TASTING NOTES |
Valmiñor | 2023 | 100% Albariño | O Rosal | Fresh, floral aromatics and great citrus drive | Hand harvest grapes. Cold maceration (10ºC) for 6 hours. Temperature-controlled fermentation on stainless steel. Resting in bottle for 1 month before release | Colour: straw yellow with green reflections. Pronounced intensity on the nose with aromas of mandarin citrus, orange peel, apricot, peach, lime, orange blossom, white flowers. Fresh, lively, with well-integrated acidity. Smooth and pleasant on the mouth with a bitter fruity, lingering finish. |
Altos de Torona | 2022 | 100% Albariño | O Rosal | Traditional coastal Albariño. Elegant, salty style with stoned fruits and melon and well-balanced freshness on the finish. | Soil: Granitic sandy, very permeable Sustainable vineyard planted in the middle of the slopes between Miño River and the Atlantic Ocean. Lees contact in stainless steel tanks. | Light yellow with greenish reflections. Aromas of apple, citrus fruits, apricot, toasted notes. Fuller body with oily consistency. Saline, controlled acidity, subtle finish. Pair it with steamed cockles, seafood pasta, semi-soft cheese or even hake stew |
Terras Gauda | 2023 | 70% Albariño| 25% Caíño Blanco| 5% Loureira | O Rosal | Vibrant freshness and a spectrum of scents reminiscent of strolls through sun-dappled orchards. On the nose, sweet ripe peach and lusciousness pineapple, interwoven with citrusy hints of effervescent lime | Soil: Schist, less deep than granite Vineyards cover 160 hectares. Mixture of own and partner vineyards. Hand harvesting. Cold maceration. Alcoholic fermentation with selected yeast. Separate vinification of 3 varietals. 30% of the final blend is aged on the lees. | Complex aromas and flavours. Notes of ripe fruit, stone fruit, peaches, pineapple, orange peel, mineral, earthy, aromatic leaves. This wine has more intensity and good structure with long finish. |
O Rosal | 2023 | 90% Albariño| 5% Caíño Blanco| 5% Loureira | O Rosal | Fruity and floral sensations with soft citrus touches. Creamy on the mouth reveals a creamy with refreshing texture | Hand-harvested grapes. Pneumatic pressing. Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel. Resting on the lees for 6 months before bottling. | Straw yellow colour. Pronounced intensity of fresh fruit, delicate floral aromas, aromatic herbs, subtle citric and mineral notes. Dominant flavours of lemon, aromatic herbs, minerals. Fresh and intense, this wine is drinking well or can be kept for 3 to 4 years. Pair it with fish, sushi, poultry or shellfish |
Castro Martín ‘En Rama’ | 2022 | 100% Albariño | Val do Salnés | Ultra-ripe pineapple on the nose and throughout. Lovely texture and soft, juicy, super-concentrated fruits with electric acidity and mineral tension | Soil: Granite and quartz Family Estate. Vines are ~50 years old. Proximity to Atlantic coast and river estuaries. 'SOBRE LIAS' means 'ON THE LEES'. Hand-harvested grapes. Gentle pressing in pneumatic presses. Fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. | Salty minerality, with white fruit aromas. Tangy and vibrant palate, steely note balanced by peachy & pear notes along with lemon and Med+ acidity. Awards: • Bronze International Wine & Spirit Competition London 2021 • Bronze Decanter World Wine Awards 2021 • Silver Unión Española de Catadores Bacchus Madrid 2021 • Gold Frankfurt International Trophy 2021 |
Santiago Ruiz | 2023 | 82% Albariño| 8% Loureiro| 6.5% Caíño Blanco| 2% Treixadura| 1.5% Godello | O Rosal | Notes of apples, pears, and apricots, with nice freshness and subtle hints of aromatic herbs & mineral essence | 44ha South-facing vineyards near the estuary of River Miño. Vineyards are planted at 50-75m altitude and are 20-25 years old. The grapes are hand-harvested. Each grape variety was fermented separately in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature. Four months of ageing on the lees before the final blend. | Straw yellow colour. Complex aromas with floral, fruit, mineral notes. Balanced palate with sweet fruit flavours and attractive freshness. Pair it with dishes from Galicia, fish, seafood, Asian cuisine, white meats or paté. |
Vionta | 2023 | 100% Albariño | Val do Salnés | Nose of white peaches and white plum. Juicy and broadly textured, this wine is highly drinkable | The grapes for this wine come from vines that are 15+ years old. Fermentation at 15ºC to preserve tropical and floral notes. Fine lees maceration over several months. | Lemon colour with green flashes. Complex aromas with fruit notes, citric, tropical, ripe fruit, bread, brioche. Rounded wine with balanced acidity. Pair it with seafood dishes, salads or rice dishes. Awards: • 90 p. Decanter 2023 • 90 p. Guía Peñín 2023 • Gold CINVE 2023 • Gold Zarcillo 2022 • Silver IWC 2022 |
Chan de Rosas Clásico | 2023 | 100% Albariño | Val do Salnés | fresh, crisp wine that displays white flower and citrus notes, backed up by white peach and crisp acidity | Soil: Granite soil The grapes for this wine come from 2 Estates: Lino Sayar and Arborubios. The vineyards are planted at 25-50 m altitude and were planted in 2010-2011. Hand-harvested grapes. Minimum of 3 months ageing in stainless steel tank with weekly bâtonnage (lees stirring) to maintain lees suspended during ageing. | Aroma of citrus and white fruits, green apple, pear. Fresh, round palate typical of Albariño grapes. |
If you wish to download this table, you can do it here:
Where to Buy the Wines
Intrigued by these wines? here is where you can buy or taste them
Valmiñor 2023 - Baggot St Wines; Sweeneys D3; DrinkStore; McHughs; Martins; Deveneys; Lotts; FireCastle
Altos de Torona 2022 - Blackrock Cellar Corkscrew Deveney's - Dundrum DrinkStore - Stoneybatter Nectar Wines
Terras Gauda 2023 - Taste it at Glovers Alley Pearl Brasserie Bovinity The Ivy Dawson Street Shanahan’s On The Green
O Rosal 2023 - James Redmond & Sons Ltd Urban Brewing Ltd
Castro Martín ‘En Rama’ 2022 - Rathmullan House, The Rusty Oven, Kealys Seafood, in Donegal; The Courthouse, Monaghan; The Supper Club, Kinsale, Mikey Ryans, Tipperary; Sha-Roe Bistro, Wexford; 360 Cookhouse, Dungarvan; Balyvolane House, Cork ; MacNeane Bistro, Cavan; The Old Convent, Tipperary; Connemara Sands Hotel, Galway
Santiago Ruiz 2023 - Matt The Thresher; Nearys; Clontarf Wines; Jacques Restaurant
Vionta 2023 - Fresh Off license; The Delgany Grocer, Delgany; Fresh Stores Dublin; Next-door Stores; Robbies, Dublin; Ananda, Dundrum; Chakra Greystones; Foxrock Golf Club; Herons Cove Cork; Gleesons Dublin
Chan de Rosas Clásico 2023 - Fallon & Byrne
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