On 26 May, the Monterrei Designation of Origin returns to Madrid to present the new vintage of its wines in a professional meeting that will have the participation of 19 wineries. The event highlights the steady growth of the denomination that has a wine tradition that goes back centuries. Good proof of this is the Roman sculptural group ‘Dionisos and Ampelos’, found in the Romanesque village of A Muradella in Mourazos (Verín) and kept in the Archaeological Museum of Ourense.
The D.O. Monterrei will present its wines made with two of its most representative varieties: Godello, in whites, and Mencía, in reds. According to Manuel Vázquez, President of the Regulatory Board, the new vintage stands out for its balance between freshness, varietal expression and structure. “The climatic conditions of the last season have favored an optimal ripening, and this is reflected in more aromatic wines, with good natural acidity and great storage capacity”.
During the event you can taste the wines of the following wineries: Ladairo, PLadairo, Pazo das Tapias, Gargalo, Castro de Lobarzán, José Luis Gómez Ibáñez (Valderello), Crego e Monaguillo, Terras do Cigarrón, Triay, Pazo Blanco Núñez (Tapias Mariñán), Fragas do Lecer, Vía Arxéntea, Abeledos, Pazo de Valdeconde, Tabú, Alba Al-Bar (Daniel Fernández), Fausto Rivero (Quinta Soutullo), Manuel Vázquez Losada, Alejandro Ramón Blanco Dijkhoff (Ramón Bigotes) and Terra de Godello.
The success of the Godellos de Monterrei in the national and international market is explained by its authenticity. In this area, the variety finds a privileged environment to express its personality: fresh wines, mineral, balanced, with volume and complexity. In addition, the commitment to quality at every stage of the process has been key to this recognition, supported by awards and mentions in specialized publications.
Compared to other Galician regions more Atlantic, Monterrei has a more continental climate and a great diversity of soils, ranging from slate to granite. This combination allows to make wines with greater structure and storage capacity, without losing freshness. In the case of red wines, the Mencías de Monterrei stand out for their notes of red and black fruits, balanced acidity and good evolution in bottle. “They are wines with structure but without losing lightness, which makes them very pleasant to drink,” says Vázquez.
The gastronomic versatility is another of the great values of this denomination. A young Godello harmonizes with fish and seafood, while a mature one accompanies white meat, rice or more elaborate dishes. The reds, on the other hand, adapt to different styles of cuisine, which makes Monterrei an attractive option for restoration.
Looking to the future, the Regulatory Council aims to consolidate current markets and explore new marketing channels, always from a quality viticulture with its own identity. Work is also being done to relaunch wine training in the region and to attract new generations to the sector, convinced that viticulture can be an attractive job opportunity. “We want to continue growing in a sustainable way, without losing the essence of our tradition,” concludes the president.
