Rías Baixas

Rías Baixas is the green, rainy corner of Galicia in Spain's far northwest, where Albariño produces the country's signature seafood white. Granite soils and Atlantic spray give the wines saline minerality and zippy acid. Vines are traditionally trained on tall pergolas (parras) to encourage airflow in a damp climate. Most bottlings are unoaked and meant for early drinking.

Famous appellations

• Rías Baixas DO

History

Cistercian monks may have brought Albariño from across the Pyrenees in the 12th century, though that origin story is debated. The DO was created in 1988 and Rías Baixas has grown rapidly into Spain's premier white-wine region by reputation. Lees-aged and single-vineyard bottlings are the modern quality-tier expansion.