Meet the Ribeiro
Vineyard cultivation has always been the main source of wealth and the rationale of the district. It is not known with certainty what was the origin of landraces Ribeiro , but by the testimony of Estrabón is known, that in the second half of the second century BC Christ and Ribeiro.En wine was produced over the Roman in these lands , the tables of emperors were drenched wines of Ribeiro . While deserve special mention Cistercian monks . These religious settled in San Clodius , in the town of Leiro , and built a monastery. Aware of the enormous potential of Ribeiro, dedicated their dedication to the study of the native varieties today hallmark of our wines. It is noteworthy that the abbot of the monastery of San Clodius , Pelagius Gonzalez, half of the twelfth century , indicated in his will which had been the daunting task of re-implantation of the vineyard and bragging about the high quality of the wines of Ribeiro , who under the Way of Santiago , had arrived in Europe at the hands of Jewish merchants , who also turn left on Ribadavia its historical and monumental legacy. Besides the effect impusor Monastery San Clodius , we must summon the monks monastery Oseira , also called the Escorial Gallego that while outside the geographical limits of the Denomination of Origin Ribeiro, set their farms and priories in areas of Ribeiro drenched river Miño , dedicating them to the cultivation of the vine. In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries dating documents in which the monks of Oseira signed contracts with various landowners in Ribeiro for planting vineyards
Historical Splendour
This area unaffected by the Muslim invasion had a real continuity and progression in the cultivation of vines since Roman times, reaching its peak in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries when the wine became a of the greatest riches of Ribeiro, cultivated and produced according to high intensity, enjoyed great prestige, exported throughout Spain and Europe to France, Portugal, Italy and especially Britain. Was transported in rafts and carriage for loading in port, being essential to the navigability of the river Miño Ribeiro economy. In 1592 we have documentary evidence of shipment for America Ferrol 127 pipes of wine Ribeiro at 190 reais.
The resurgence
The benefits of our wines transcended all aspects of daily life , this being true reflection of the numerous references in the literature of the period , like the character of Cervantes, Licentiate , who found Ribeiro wine in a Genoese tavern ” more wines named host, and gave them , who could get their wineries the same tobacco .” In 1850, Ribeiro was hit by the plague of oidium that soon decimated plantations . She joined in 1892 mildew and phylloxera , getting impoverish a glorious panorama. Landraces then began to give way to other category but less sustained , inappropriate but tough ; vineyard lost some prominence and emigration became an alternative. Currently Ribeiro returns to his roots and a strong comeback betting on indigenous grapes that gave it its name, through the recovery of old and creation of new plantations by conversion programs and restructuring of vineyards . This implementation of new wineries and incorporating technological advances in existing , always looking for a better quality and the ultimate expression of the native varieties adds .
Designation
The Designation of Origin Ribeiro is located in the southern Galicia, in the northwestern edge of the province of Ourense, in the confluence of the valleys formed by the Miño, Avia and Arnoia rivers. It has an area of 2,800 hectares of vineyards located in the municipalities of Arnoia, Beade, Boborás, Carballeda Avia, Carballiño, Castrelo Minho, Cenlle, Cortegada, Leiro, Ourense, Puxin, Ribadavia, San Amaro and Toén. The vineyard extends from 75 to 400 meters in valleys and hillsides sometimes steep slope that is saved by terraces called bocaribeiras socalcos or following contours.
