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Green Spain — Wine Region Guide

Dajeong Lim M.D.
DipWSET · CMS Advanced Sommelier (Leslie Rudd Award 2024) · FWS · IWS · SWS
Wine educator of PDT Seoul · Editor of YourOwnWineEncyclopedia.com · Last reviewed June 2026

The Green Spain maps from Your Own Wine Encyclopedia — every name tag opens a study card. Below, the chapter's own geography, climate and geology notes.

Maps on this page
2 screens from the interactive map
On the map
Galicia · Rías Baixas DO · Val do Salnés · O Rosal · +19 more
Interactive map
Terrain & satellite · every name tag opens a study card
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Green Spain
Green Spain. Rías Baixas, Ribeiro, Ribeira Sacra, Valdeorras and Bierzo across the Atlantic northwest.
Wine Maps — Spain · Rías BaixasSubscriber
Val do Salnés
Sub-zone level. Val do Salnés — the largest, coolest and oldest of the Rías Baixas sub-zones.

From the encyclopedia — geography, climate & geology

Location & Topography

  • Coastal areas: cliffs and rías (submerged river valleys open to the sea — formed by partial flooding of unglaciated river valleys due to rising sea levels; branch-like, indented coastline with islands)
  • Interior: hilly and mountainous landscape
  • Two most important rivers: Río Miño and Río Sil — known as the "country of the thousand rivers"
  • Three primary mountain ranges of the Macizo Galaico / Galician Massif:
    • Serra do Eixe, Serra da Enciña da Lastra, Serra do Courel
    • Avg heights ~500 m; some exceeding 2,000 m
  • Vine training by site:
    • Steep hillsides: planted en espaldera (on terraces)
    • Flatter sites: planted on parrals (pergolas)

Climate

  • Maritime climate; temperate compared to other areas at similar latitude

On the map