Santiago Ruiz "O Rosal" Rias Baixas Blanco

Known as “the father of Albariño”, Santiago Ruiz was a legendary figure in Galician wine, having played a key role in establishing the Rías Baixas DO in the 1980s. His contribution to the development of modern winemaking in the region (he was the first producer to use stainless steel tanks) led a street in San Miguel de Tabagón to be named after him. Today, winemaking at Santiago’s eponymous estate, in O Rosal, is led by Chema Ureta, continuing his legacy with a fresh vision rooted in family tradition and reflecting a Galician sense of place.

O Rosal is the most southerly of the five Rías Baixas sub-zones and enjoys more sunlight hours and lower rainfall than other subzones. Situated on the north bank of the river Miño, which marks the border with Portugal, the vines benefit from both cooling Atlantic breezes and the moderating influence and increased airflow from the river. Soils in O Rosal are predominantly sandy over granite bedrock, creating wines with an aromatic richness and characteristic wet-stone minerality.

Loureiro, a variety prized for its aromatic flavour profile, performs exceptionally well here, and wines labelled ‘O Rosal’ must include this grape in the blend. This distinguishes O Rosal’s wines from the majority of Rías Baixas’ made from 100% Albariño. The Santiago Ruiz vineyards cover 44 hectares, planted on south-facing slopes on the banks of the Miño. All their vineyards are sustainably farmed, with harvest carried out by hand, and the winery is part of the WETWINE project to cut waste by recycling and reusing resources to ensure the landscape is protected.

Treixadura, Godello, Loureiro

`O Rosal` is the most southerly sub-region of the Rías Baixas, situated on the north bank of the river Miño, which marks the border with Portugal's Vinho Verde. The vineyards benefit from cooling and moderating Atlantic breezes and increased airflow from the river. The sustainably-farmed Santiago Ruiz vineyards in Tomiño cover 44 hectares and are planted with Albariño, Loureiro, Caíño Blanco, Treixadura and Godello. Loureiro, a variety prized for its aromatic flavour profile, performs particularly well here and wines labelled `O Rosal` must include this grape in the blend, which distinguishes them from the majority of Rías Baixas wines which are 100% Albariño. Soils in `O Rosal` are predominantly sandy over a granite bedrock, this translates into wines with an aromatic richness combined with a characteristic wet stone minerality.

The grapes were hand harvested by variety using 20kg crates, followed by a hand selection process on sorting tables upon arrival at the winery. Each variety underwent cryo-maceration and was fermented separately in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature. Each variety was vinified separately and, after four months of lees ageing, the blend was carefully assembled to produce the distinctive Santiago Ruiz style.

A vibrant yellow hue with striking floral aromas, accented by hints of lime, crisp green apple, apricot and delicate herbal undertones. The palate is both complex and elegant, showcasing fresh fruit flavours balanced by a subtle stony minerality and a clean, refreshing finish.