Galicia’s Wine Country: From Ribeira Sacra to Rías Baixas

A recent trip through Galicia’s wine country offered a glimpse into the winemaking soul of this ancient land. Unlike much of Spain’s arid vineyard landscape, Galicia is lush and green. Fertile valleys are carved by rivers, waterfalls, and springs that wind their way toward the Atlantic. Here, the landscape doesn’t just frame the wine—it defines it.

From the rolling green hills to dramatic cliffs and valleys, Galicia feels far removed from the flat urban sprawl of Spain’s coasts and capital. Its steep slopes and chaotic soils remain partly untamed. Developers have no choice but to design with nature, not against it. The pace is slower here. Life feels rooted in adaptation rather than conquest.

But our journey began far from this peaceful countryside. It started in the gray chaos of Madrid’s Barajas Airport. We planned to meet there before driving north toward Ribera del Duero. Just finding our way out of the airport parking lot proved a challenge. After a few false starts and some back-and-forth frustration, we finally made it onto the road.

Our first stop was Vega Sicilia, widely considered Spain’s most prestigious winery—and with good reason. I can personally attest to its excellence. I spent a full year working there across all four seasons. But that story is for another moment.

We had five days to cover 1,200 km and reach Spain’s northwestern corner. Along the way, we explored Galicia’s varied winemaking landscape. Our group of three—Isma from Mallorca, Rubén from Madrid, and myself from New York—met years ago in Mallorca while studying for WSET 3 with the Amazing Jeni Wilson of www.vinclass.com . Since then, we have stayed in touch. Each of us brings different palates, industry connections, and philosophies on what makes a great wine. Somehow, we complement one another perfectly.

When we plan wine trips, our rules are simple: each person chooses one winery they’re passionate about visiting, then we collectively select the rest. This way, everyone gets at least one guaranteed stop, and the group shapes the rest of the journey together.

For Galicia, our plan included six wineries, five days, three wine regions, and as many bottles as we could taste. May proved to be the perfect month: mild weather, long sunny days, and quiet vineyards before the summer crowds.

For context, Galicia is home to five D.O.’s: Ribeiro, Ribeira Sacra, Rías Baixas, Valdeorras, and Monterrei. In addition, there are five lesser-known IGP’s: Barbanza e Iria, Betanzos, Ribeiras do Morrazo, Terras do Navia, and Valle del Miño–Ourense.

What makes Galicia particularly fascinating is its devotion to autochthonous grapes. While international varieties exist here, they have never overtaken the region. Instead, local grapes have become inseparable from their terroir—a resilience rooted in centuries of adaptation.