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The Winery
Situation
The
region of Valdeorras is situated in the eastern part of the province of
Orense. It borders on the province of León, which is the natural entrance to
Galicia. There was once the "Vía Nova" used by the Roman legions and the
"Camino Real" used by pilgrims on their way to Sr. Jame's tomb.The first
report about grape growing and wine production dates back to the Roman
period.
Situation and climate
Vineyards
grow on these rich hillsides over slate substratum irrigated by the river
Sil, in a mediterranean-continental microclimate, under the influence of the
Atlantic ocean. Temperatures range between 8ºC and 25ºC in the less damp
part of Galicia.
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As Paz Andrade said, the region of Valdeorras is more
noted for its wine than for any other crop.
Valdeorras & Godello
Its best
vine is golden autochthonous GODELLO, one of the oldest varieties
that at the end of the XIX century nearly became extinct by phylloxera.
Valdeorras guarantee of origin is mainly known through this superior wine.
History
At the beginning of the XX century a group of vine
growers from the region, including Victor González, started the
reconstruction of the vineyards. Their efforts nearly failed, for at that
particular time quantity was more important than quality, and lower-quality
varieties produced much more in this land caracterised by a medium to low
fertility.
Today
quality takes precedence and allows for investmens on vineyards
restructuring and technical equipment for wine growing.
Two
generations ago, Victor Fernández established the first winery known
as VIÑA SOMOZA Bodegas y Viñedos SL, at A Rua de Valdeorras. This
winery has today the most advanced technical equipment for grape
classification (selection tables) and wine making (pneumatic press for
supple pressing, rust-resisting tanks, settling devices and cooling shells,
earth filters, microfiltration, bottling and labeling machines, etc.).
Characteristics of the warehouse
A warehouse is developed to its activity in A Rua de Valedorras, having at the
present time, with but important technical advances of complete generation, as
much of classification of grape (selective tables), as of vinificación (pneumatic
presses of pressed smooth, stainless steel tanks with decantadores and cooling
shirts, earth filters, equipment of micro filtration, embotelladora,
etiquetadora, laboratory, etc). |
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Enologist
Everything is supervised by the well known enologist Fernando González ,
according to the guidelines established by José Luis Hidalgo, one of the
most famous amongst the spanish enologists, great connoisseur and promoter
of Godello wine.
Vineyards
Are subject to a detailed monitoring throughout the year. Grape is thoroughly
controlled during the ripening process in order to choose the right moment for
harvest. Transport to the winery, grape selection and immediate pressing are
also of great importance to avoid early fermentation.
The Wine
The VIÑA SOMOZA Godello is an original monovarietal wine, with an amazing
level of quality, a 12.50 abv, a pH of 3.12, 5.68 g/l of
total acidity, 0.23 g/l of volatile acidity, 30 mg of free sulphur
dioxide, 2.30 g/l of reducing sugar and 0.98 g/l of glucose and
fructose.
Only natural processes are used in its production. At present, Bodegas Viña
Somoza owns two references: VIÑA SOMOZA GODELLO and VIÑA SOMOZA
SELECCIÓN (both photos at the end of the document), which is fermented in a
French oak barrel ALLIER
The tasting note, done by the prestigious oenologist José Peñin has been
the following: ‘Viña Somoza is a star wine. It is a straw-coloured wine; it
offers a powerful and fruity aroma (a taste of pineapple and cherimoya with some
floral hints). On the palate it is fresh and tasty, with a perfect combination
of acidity and sweetness, and the persistent characteristic of the Godello
variety.’
It is a pure wine with future, with a meticulous elaboration, respecting the
grape musts and the right time of harvest, which is gaining the upper hand on
other fashionable wines. In the eleven wines diner there were very satisfactory
comments about this product with a suitable colour and brief gold sparkles. A
nice and perfect aroma, and delicious mouth with reminiscences of hay and
languid apples.
‘It shows in the label the name of Godello, referred to the variety employed and
as a symptom of quality. Glyceric on the mouth with a good acidity and a finish
with some persistence. Yellow and green coloured, very clean and bright, it
shows on the nose an aroma of a very good intensity with flower and wild hints.
In June 2003, Viña Somoza obtains the highest score within a group of 150
Galician wines and the Racimo de oro (Gold bunch of grapes) of the
Valdeorras designation of origin. The XV Galician wine testing was held in the
Parador Conde de Gondomar of Bayone (Galicia, Spain). It was presided by the
Minister of Agriculture of the Galician Government, with the participation of
wine testers from all the Autonomous communities.
For more information: bodega@vinosomoza.com
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