According to legend, the Albariño grape arrived in Galicia in the 12th century in the hands of Cistercian monks who planted vines in valleys on the route of the Camino de Santiago. Legends aside, the latest studies confirm that Albariño is a native variety from Galicia, which has been used to make white wines in the region for centuries.
Albariño is the main variety used in the wines of our Designation of Origin, the Rías Baixas. And, in varying proportions, it is the grape used in our winery's two wines: Santiago Ruiz (a blend of Albariño, Loureiro, Treixadura, Godello and Caiño Blanco) and Rosa Ruiz (100 % Albariño). Two white wines that keep the legacy of the founder alive, although with different nuances of flavour and different personalities.
Albariño is a grape variety that has small bunches and ripens earlier than other varieties in the D.O. Rías Baixas. In addition, it produces richly aromatic wines, which are particularly fruity and floral. Its use allows us to obtain balanced, well- structured wines with excellent bottle ageing potential, which allows the wine to be enjoyed for more than a year, the drinking window that is usually recommended for young, white wines. This is what occurs with our Santiago Ruiz and Rosa Ruiz wines, which continue to evolve in the bottle and retain their favourable characteristics for over a year.
We use espalier training for the Albariño vines that grown in our Tomiño vineyard. As is the case with pergolas, this allows us to increase exposure to sunlight and improve airflow around the plant. This growing system, as well as the mild temperatures in the area, helps the grapes to ripen fully and achieve aromatic intensity.
Santiago Ruiz and Rosa Ruiz: two Albariño wines
Santiago Ruiz is a white wine, made mainly from Albariño grapes, along with
Loureiro, Treixadura, Godello and Caiño Blanco. A blend that is faithful to the
philosophy of our founder, Santiago Ruiz, who was convinced that Albariño,
alongside other local varieties, gave rise to unique white wines.
On the other hand, Rosa Ruiz is a 100% Albariño wine that comes from vines trellised in the traditional manner located at the foot of the historic winery.