Rías Baixas in pictures

Last week db’s Lucy Shaw jetted off to Rías Baixas to learn more about the region’s signature grape, Albariño, and how it’s grown. Her travel buddies included wine writes Peter Dean and Christine Austin (far left and right), Alison Dillon of Wines from Spain, and two competition winners from Camino.

The harvest was in fully swing when we visited, but many a bunch still hung on the vines soaking up some final rays of late summer sun.

Our first stop took us to Dos Eidos where Francisco Santiso talked us through the region’s renowned pergolas.

in full bloom

Then we headed to the stunning Pazo Baion, home to this 500-year-old castle, which was sadly shut on our visit.

The palm-lined estate is also home to an adorable dove cote, which is proving a popular setting for wine tastings and dinners.

As lunch spots go, this was hard to beat.

Before lunch we tasted through the Pazo Baion range, and then feasted on polpo a la feria (octopus with potatoes and paprika) and salt cod empanadas.

One of the funkier shaped bottles in Rías Baixas – the label was the winning entry in a consumer competition and is said to represent grapes and the earth.

After lunch we were given a grand tour of the estate…

Where the harvest was underway…

Paso Baion’s beautiful gardens

totally tropical

The next morning we headed to Laxas, which is so close to the Portuguese boarder, we could see it from the vineyard.

Grapes were coming in thick and fast at Vionta

Vionta’s chief winemaker Roger Fernandez Gasull enjoys the view of the region’s patchwork quilt of small plots with a glass of Albariño.

At 210 miles, the Miño is the longest river in Galicia, and runs all the way into Portugal

So close we can almost taste the Vinho Verde…

At Laxas we were treated to a tasting of the estate’s sparkling Albariño, which is made in the traditional method and spends nine months on its lees.

Lucy approved of the pastel blue colour scheme at Quinta Couselo

and she really approved of the estate’s laid back approach to wine tasting…

Chief winemaker José Manuel Martinez Juste is experimenting with ageing Albariño in barrels and foudres, as he likes the texture and complexity they provide.

The sun continued to shine as we enjoyed an abundant lunch al fresco

Leave the gun, take the cannoli

Our next stop took us to Adegas Valmiñor, where sorting had begun in earnest

good enough to eat

Export manager Eric shows us the difference between Albariño and Treixadura

There’s more to Rías Baixas than Albariño, as this meaty red made from pre-phylloxera grape Castañal proved…

Our final visit took us to revered estate Pazo de Señorans, which is so pretty, it has become popular as a wedding venue.

Showing us around was director Vicky Mareque Bueno, who revealed that Pazo de Señorans is looking to release a sparkling Albariño in the future and is currently experimenting with the 2011 vintage. The estate also plans to produce a sweet wine.

Two of the gems we tried during the tasting – the 2004 vintage of top drop Selección de Añanda and a re-release of its flagship Albariño under the “Colección” brand.