Soils tend to be alluvial on a bed of slate but each sub-region has its own special microclimate. In general, the Ribeira Sacra climate is more continental than Atlantic, with long, hot summers and mild autumns. However, it has heavy rainfall, with around 800 mm per annum, which helps to preserve Galicia’s characteristic green pastures. The Miño valley gets even more rain, around 900 mm per annum with an average temperature of 14ºC, while the Sil valley gets around 700 mm with an average temperature of 13ºC. The soils in both valleys are also different. On the one hand, the Miño valley soils are similar to those of granite origin that dominate western Galicia, with sandy and limy fractions that are light and permeable. On the other hand, clay is abundant in the Sil valley, although the original quality of the soil on the terraces has improved immensely.

DO Ribeira Sacra preserves all of the essence of Galician wines due to the predominat use of native grapes. The preferential varieties are: Godello, Albariño, Treixadura, Loureira, Dona Branca and Torrontés for whites and Mencía, Brancellao and Merenzao for reds. Furthermore, the following grapes are also endorsed for reds: Garnacha Tinta, Tempranillo, Sousón, Caiño Tinto and Mouratón.

As mentioned, the vineyards are located on the terraces in the valleys and on the sides of the riverbanks and are characterised by low-yield harvests with grapes endowed with highly concentrated flavours. The terraces, known as ‘bancales’, are quite small and impossible to mechanise. At harvest time they are reached by using narrow paths and sometimes even by river.

Ribeira Sacra is essentially focused towards making reds, but it also makes some very interesting whites. The most abundant grape is the Mencía variety, giving rise to great quality young wines, fruity and very aromatic.

Mencía wines are cherry in colour, bright and with a purple edge. In the nose they create an agreeable first impression, especially fruity, sufficient intensity and medium to long duration. In the mouth they go down well, provoking a very pleasant sensation. They have a balanced acidity and quite a potent alcoholic content. They are tasty wines, some of them fleshy and slightly astringent. They have an elegant and fruity after taste, with medium intensity and a prolonged persistence in the mouth.