The forefather of Galician wines, Santiago Ruiz was a pioneer in his vision of the vineyard as the place where wine is born. We remember one of his favourite sayings in our everyday work: "you have to look after the grapes from the vineyard to the glass." Care that begins with allowing the vineyard to develop naturally, without trying to alter the rhythm of ripening.
Located in a privileged area of the DO Rías Baixas - near to the Atlantic Ocean and the banks of the Miño River - our Tomiño estate has a unique microclimate, with mild temperatures throughout the year, making it one of the first vineyards to be harvested each vintage.
Its 38 hectares are planted with the native local grape varieties - Albariño, Loureiro, Treixadura, Godello and Caiño Blanco - on espalier trellises that optimise exposure to sun and air. The location and the training system are two factors that help the grapes to ripen correctly.
A place where the grapes grow on sedimentary soil - sandy loam with granite bedrock - that gives the wine its characteristic wet stone minerality. The sand and rock content helps create a well-draining soil, which leads to lower-yielding but better quality grapes.
Winemaker Luisa Freire, together with vineyard manager Ramón Lorenzo, are in charge of monitoring and controlling the use of sustainable practices in the vineyard, which respect the ecosystem and perceive the vineyard as a living entity.
These practices include the use of organic compost for planting and the rational use of pesticides, with minimal use in years when the weather is kind with little rain. In addition, we seek to preserve the natural plant cover in the vineyard and the diversity of flora and insects that were originally present in the vineyard.
This setting, in which climate and care come together, is the birthplace of Santiago Ruiz, the wine that represents our way of seeing and doing things, our expertise, our origin and also our future. This is why it is so important to preserve and maintain it for future generations.
But it is harvest time when the vineyard plays its starring role, when the grapes are picked by hand in small crates. An activity that takes place year after year, fundamental in ensuring that the grapes arrive at the winery in the best possible condition and meet with Santiago Ruiz's wish to "look after the grapes from the vineyard to the glass."