For winemakers, the harvest is the most crucial time of the year. In just a few days—or even hours—all the work of an entire year is at stake, with this moment being particularly decisive as the cluster leaves the vine to pass into the hands of the winemaker.
Thus, it is not surprising that during this critical juncture, which many consider a turning point, all the winery's efforts are focused: nocturnal work (to avoid the heat and ensure the clusters arrive at the winery as fresh as possible), entirely manual (where machines have no place), and selecting only the finest berries. Some companies, such as Adegas Moure, even duplicate this step to guarantee the excellence and quality of their wines, as seen in Abadía da Cova Loia Blanco.
The albariño and godello grapes are blended in this wine, which ferments in barrels and spends five months in this noble material. But we are telling the story of Abadía da Cova Loia Blanco starting from the end. To find the beginnings of Abadía da Cova Loia Blanco, one must go back to Cuñas, a Galician village in the heart of the D.O. Ribera Sacra, where the Moure family has been producing wines for over a century. Both the albariño and godello for Abadía da Cova Loia Blanco are cultivated in separate plots. Both vineyards are over 20 years old. While the albariño comes from the Las Cuñas estate (2 hectares) with granite soils, the godello grows in Montefurado, where slate is abundant.
And these varieties will also remain separate in the winery, where Abadía da Cova Loia Blanco ferments individually. The albariño on one side; and the godello on the other. However, both will ferment in French oak barrels (previously used) with a capacity of about 500 litres. These barrels, where Abadía da Cova Loia Blanco will rest for several months, will be the common factor in both processes, which will later be blended to forge the character of this white wine.
In terms of quality, if there is one winery to highlight, it is undoubtedly Adega Moura, a company where excellence is always the standard. And as a prime example: Abadía da Cova Loia Blanco. Enjoy!