A Coroa: A Local Galician Wine in Demand Beyond Spain’s Borders
by Isaiah Voss
Tucked away in the northwestern Spanish province of Ourense, A Coroa sits atop ancient ruins 63 miles (102 kilometers) east of the city of Ourense. A pre-Roman fort in the shape of a crown is the namesake of the winery’s name A Coroa, translating into English as “the crown.”
“I was born and lived the majority of life in Valdeorras, the cradle of Godello: the perfect terrain to produce this variety.”
“Fresh, varietal and full-bodied” is how Marta Sertaje Nogueira puts into words the taste of A Coroa Godello. As export director at the family-owned winery, Marta knows an A Coroa wine “can accompany moments of reflection and shared meals, connecting the spirit with the richness of the land.”
Marta Sertaje Nogueira poses in front of one of the vineyards in Valdeorras, Galicia. Photo submitted by A Coroa.
Sommeliers and wine enthusiasts alike beyond the Galcian enclave of Valdeorras are getting to know Valdeorras through the taste of Godello, a wine grape native to the region. There is no one better to ask since Marta – just like Godello – is from Valdeorras.
“I was born and lived the majority of life in Valdeorras, the cradle of Godello: the perfect terrain to produce this variety,” she said.
Let’s get a taste (as much as we can!) as to why you should consider trying A Coroa.
Q&A with Iberian Aesthetics and Marta from A Coroa
View of the area where A Coroa wines are produced. Photo submitted by A Coroa.
An expert may ask: What’s special about A Coroa?
Marta at A Coroa says: “On an ancient, pre-Roman fort and its special enclave, sat atop a hill in the shape of a crow, giving the name to this family-run winery. Due to the estate’s geographical location and historical significance – situated on a 300-year-old structure – the winery’s reconstruction has been carried out using only the finest natural resources native to the area: rock, wood and slate.”
An expert may ask: What’s the soil like?
Marta at A Coroa says: “Our soils are varied – from shallow, slatey soils, granitic soils, richer in sand to those that lie on sediments and terraces, where boulders abound.”
An expert may ask: How does the soil affect the taste of a glass of A Coroa Godello?
Marta at A Coroa says: “I believe that our identity is the slate, giving rise to a Godello with a fine fruity aroma, yellow or straw color, and with good alcohol-acidity balance – appetizing and with an intense and prolonged aftertaste.”
An expert may ask: What’s the vineyard’s microclimate like?
Marta at A Coroa says: “Mostly the same throughout the area, with slight variation in the higher altitude plots where ripening is a little slower.”
An expert may ask: What’s the altitude?
Marta at A Coroa says: “From 350 to 650 meters.” (1,148 to 2,132 feet)
View from A Coroa’s vineyard. Photo submitted by A Coroa.
An expert may ask: Is there a special wine grown at a higher altitude?
Marta at A Coroa says: “Perhaps because of the greater differentiation to the rest of the plots – Valdeaguas – where we make 200 Cestos, is one of our favorites. It is located at an altitude between 550 and 650 meters. The vineyard is composed of two hectares of vines planted in terraces where 90-year-old vines are combined.”
An expert may ask: In your opinion, why 200 Cestos?
Marta at A Coroa says: “This wine is characterized by its terroir, and I’m very much representative of my homeland, the Valdeorras region. There’s no better way to identify!”
Final thoughts
“In Galicia, wine is more than a beverage; it is a symbol of joy, community and tradition,” she said. “Throughout the year, festivities and celebrations become perfect settings to enjoy the wines that reflect the spirit of this magical land, and we can do just that with a glass of Godello A Coroa.”
Iberian Aesthetics is currently receiving many orders for A Coroa’s wines.
Isaiah Voss reported from Madrid, Spain.
