Bodegas Gallegas: A Legacy of Galician Winemaking Excellence

Founded over 50 years ago by Manuel Vázquez, affectionately known as “Manolo Arnoya,” Bodegas Gallegas began as a small family venture in Galicia, Spain. Today, it is one of the largest and most respected wineries in the region, while still maintaining the family-driven passion and tradition that marked its humble beginnings. Manolo’s philosophy was simple: to make great wine, you need work, love, and attention to detail— values that remain at the heart of Bodegas Gallegas today.

Vineyards and Terroir

Bodegas Gallegas owns and cultivates 300 hectares of vineyards spread across some of Galicia’s most renowned wine regions, including Rías Baixas, Ribeira Sacra, and Ribeiro. These regions are celebrated for their cool, Atlantic-influenced climate, which is ideal for growing indigenous grape varieties like Albariño, Treixadura, and Godello.

The vineyards are planted in calcareous, limestone-rich soils that contribute to the unique mineral character of the wines. The vines, which range in age from 7 to 20 years, are cultivated using modern viticulture techniques that preserve the natural characteristics of the land while ensuring sustainable farming practices. The combination of these elements results in fresh, crisp wines with bright acidity and vibrant aromatics.

Sustainability and Innovation

Bodegas Gallegas prides itself on blending tradition with modernity. While maintaining a deep respect for the region’s winemaking heritage, the winery employs cutting-edge technology in both the vineyards and the cellar. Innovations such as controlled fermentation with native yeasts and careful oak aging are used to ensure the best expression of each variety. Despite its growth into a major wine producer, Bodegas Gallegas continues to prioritize sustainability and responsible environmental practices, ensuring that their wines reflect the purity of the Galician landscape.

Notable Wines

The winery is known for producing high-quality wines across several appellations. Their Albariño from Rías Baixas and Godello from Ribeiro are particularly celebrated for their crisp, aromatic profiles that pair beautifully with seafood. Other wines like the Mencía from Ribeira Sacra offer a rich and complex experience, reflecting the unique terroir of the region.

Rectoral do Umia is located in the Val do Salnés region, one of the five subzones of the appellation, which is considered as the birth place of Rias Baixas. The rugged coastline is known to be the coolest and dampest of the region. Its soils are composed of hard granite with a very thin alluvial top soil, very similar to the Muscadet region of Atlantic France. The name “Salnés” comes from the salt flats that once covered the area (sal = salt). During the Middle Ages, the valley’s inhabitants collected salt and used it for preserving the fish that left their ports on merchant ships. The Latin name for the region was Territorium Salinense, which gradually became Salnés in Galician. The pergola trained vineyards are pratically at sea level, on gentle slopes or on the plain close to the Umia River.

Built in an old 17th century rectory, surrounded by 20 hectares of vineyards, the winery is located in Amandi, in the heart of the Ribeira Sacra. Rectoral de Amandi has another 120 hectares of vineyards distributed in different areas of the appellation. It also counts on the collaboration with more than 300 local winegrowers that allow to maintain the traditions alive. The philosophy of Rectoral de Amandi is based on respect for the environment and the promotion of the local economy. The grazing based viticulture is organic with no use of chemicals. Harvest is manual. All the cuvées are fermented with indigenous yeasts in either tanks or wooden barrels.