The Monterrei Designation of Origin has held a new professional presentation in Madrid, which have participated 19 wineries in the area. On this occasion, it was possible to taste not only the whites made with Godello, but also the reds of Mencía and other references that confirm the varietal richness of the territory.
Although the D.O. Monterrei was officially recognized in 1994, it has a winemaking tradition that goes back centuries. Good proof of this is the Roman sculpture group Dionisos and Ampelos, found in the Roman villa of A Muradella in Mourazos (Verín) and kept in the Archaeological Museum of Ourense.
During the event, wines from the following wineries were tasted: Ladairo, 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.
Once again, the wines of Monterrei (Godellos, Mencías and blends of native varieties) have proved that they are ideal to accompany any dish and also perfect for summer terraceo.
Although the monovarietal varieties of Godello and Mencía predominate, some wineries have chosen to show other references that include coupages of white grapes native to Galicia that bring different nuances and aromas, as in the case of whites, the Godello with Treixadura, Dona Blanca or Albariño.
As for the reds, the wines presented by Monterrei surprised professionals in the sector with their fresh and very subtle character, which expands the market possibilities of this designation of origin known to the popular Godellos, because Galician red wines are also perfect for summer.
Therefore, some wineries showed their red coupages of Mencía with other varieties such as Sousón, Caíño Tinto and Araúxa.
“This vintage is one of the best there is, both for climatology and the use of phytosanitary. It is a spectacular vintage. We bring to this place as important as is Madrid white and red of great quality. Monterrei is synonymous with precisely that, quality, and we have wines that speak for themselves”, said Gonzalo Losada, manager of the D.O. Monterrei.
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.
The event in Madrid reaffirms D.O. Monterrei’s commitment to quality and a viticulture that respects its origin and bets on the future. The good reception of this edition reinforces its position as a name in constant growth, with wines that connect with consumers and professionals of the sector for their authenticity, freshness and versatility.
As for expansion plans, Losada comments that the presence of Monterrei is mainly national, “although in recent years exports to the international market, such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland or the United States, have grown exponentially thanks to the great acceptance of quality wines”.
Good sign of his good health is that between 08 to 10 August will be held, once again, the Monterrei Wine Fair, which reaches its eighteenth edition. It will again be an event for all audiences, with the realization of enogastronomic activities such as tastings or showcookings, musical performances, children’s workshops or the stands of the wineries where you can taste the reds and whites of Monterrei.
