Martín Códax ‘MARA’ Monterrei D.O. Godello 2019/2021

The wine growing region of Monterrei is a Spanish D.O. appellation, first establish in 1994. It’s located inland, South-east corner of Galicia. Currently there are nearly 600 hectares of vineyards are planted to make wines of this appellation.

Monterrei is the warmest and driest area in Galicia, sharing some climatic characteristics with the Spanish central plain. The Serra do Larouco range produces a rain shadow effect in the area. Besides, summers are long and sometimes dry, sometimes with a daily temperature range sometimes as wide as 30 degrees Celsius. Temperatures can fall below 0 °C in winter. Average annual rainfall is about 700 mm and the influence of the Atlantic produces cold autumns.

And local soil is fertile, clayey soils, humid climate, plus high vine density means that wine production is high. Vineyard works like summer pruning and green harvest are common.

Though the law doesn’t really restrict the choice of grape varieties used for this appellation, there is a list of official recommended grape varieties. Godello is the top choice amongst the white varieties. The variety is sensitive to disease such as powdery mildew, which is why it’s less commonly grown near the coast such as Galicia’s champion producing region, Rias Baixas. When fully ripe, and made into wine, the variety offers lemon, apple and white peach aroma, as well retaining good amount of acidity.