The Godello of Monterrei conquers Madrid

The Denomination of Origin Monterrei, located in the province of Ourense, has arrived in Madrid with a clear mission: to demonstrate that its wines are at the height of the most demanding palates and that they are ideal and dare with any type of cuisine. Thus, by the hand of fifteen of the almost 30 wineries that make up the DO, has presented an autochthonous variety that is conquering wine lovers: the Godello, also known as Verdello, the most abundant white variety in the area. Thus, the wineries Ladairo, Gargalo, Terras do Cigarrón, Crego e Monaguillo, Quinta do Buble, Triay, Tapias Mariñán, Fragas do Lecer, Manuel Guerra Justo (Vía Arxéntea), Abeledos, Pazo de Valdeconde, Tabú, Franco Basalo, Daniel Fernández and Serra de Alén.

The Denomination of Origin Monterrei is located in the southeast of the province of Ourense, in an area that benefits from a unique microclimate. This region with Mediterranean influence and continental trend, allows optimal ripening of grapes. The varied soils, ranging from granitic to slate and clay, contribute to the complexity and diversity of Monterrei wines, in which the common denominator of this variety is usually its straw yellow tone, its elegance and its fruity character, in addition to being glyceric and full-bodied wines.

Monterrei is known for cultivating, in addition to Godello, native varieties such as Treixadura, Doña Blanca and Blanca de Monterrei for white wines, and Mencía and Araúxa (Tempranillo) for red wines. These grapes provide unique flavors and aromas that reflect the terroir of the region. Monterrei producers combine traditional methods with modern techniques to produce high quality wines that respect the unique character of the region.

The history presents a territory strongly linked to the production of wine for 2,000 years, from the Roman owner who settled his agricultural village of A Muradella in Mourazos (Verín), where the sculptural group ‘Dionisos and Ampelos’ was found (kept in the Archaeological Museum of Ourense) until the approval on November 25, 1994, by the Ministry of Agriculture, Gandería e Montes da Xunta de Galicia, of the Regulation of the Designation of Origin Monterrei.

All this, without forgetting the role of religious orders, or for example, the Puebla de Verín Charter (1183) which included legal provisions on the use and marketing of wine. It is worth mentioning the existence of the most relevant network of rock presses in Galicia, more than 60 located at the foot of vineyards or in castros. In addition, as anecdotal data, we must remember that Felipe II named viceroy of the two Americas (Mexico and Peru) to D. Gaspar de Zúñiga Acevedo y Velasco, who was V Conde de Monterrey, who took with him people from the area, as well as the influence of viticulture practices and varieties, that would probably leave their mark on the new continent.

The production area of Monterrei extends along the Támega river valley, covering an area of slightly less than 720 hectares, distributed among the municipalities of Castrelo do Val, Monterrei, Oímbra, Vilardevós, Riós and Verín, establishing two clearly differentiated subzones: Valle de Monterrei and Ladera de Monterrei.

The Denomination of Origin Monterrei not only stands out for the quality of its wines, complex and balanced, but also for its ability to pair with a wide variety of dishes. Thus, the Monterrei Godellos are not only ideal for fish and seafood, but also perfectly harmonize with exotic dishes of Asian cuisine and other creative cuisines.