Collection: Brancellao

Brancellao is a red grape variety with its home in Galicia in northwestern Spain. In Portugal it is known under the name Alvarelhão, while in Galicia it goes by Brancellao. It is a more discreet player than the region's well-known white grapes, and it typically appears as a supporting part of blends rather than as a solo artist. That does not mean it lacks charm, but you should not expect a dark, heavy and tannin-driven wine. Brancellao rather contributes finesse and freshness to the Galician red wines.

With us you will find Brancellao from Spain, and it is especially Ribeira Sacra that defines the selection. This steep, terraced region along the rivers of Galicia is known for elegant red wines, and here Brancellao is one of the permitted red grapes, often in the company of other local varieties. It is a good place to start if you want to get acquainted with the grape and the Galician style.

Brancellao is moreover a permitted red variety in several other Galician appellations. You meet it among the approved grapes in Rías Baixas, where it is included in red blends, as well as in Ribeiro, where it has a place in the traditional cuvées. In Valdeorras it is permitted too, just as it appears in the IGP areas Barbanza e Iria and Valle del Miño-Ourense. In Ribeiro, Brancellao can even be used for the sweet Tostado wines, where the grapes are dried before they are pressed.

Although Brancellao most often goes into blends with other red varieties, it can also be made as a pure varietal, so you can experience the grape on its own. If you want to explore Galicia's red wines, Brancellao is a fine entry point to the region's more nuanced and less well-known sides, where traditional blends and the humid, Atlantic climate leave their clear mark on the wines.