Ribeiras do Sil is the subzone across the Sil River from Amandi, and the second-smallest subzone of the Ribeira Sacra. It’s got some of the most beautiful scenery in the Ribeira Sacra, with much more than just vineyards.
A Little Geography
Ribeiras do Sil is located on the left bank of the Sil river, on the south side of the canyon. Its terrain is marked primarily by the slopes of the Sil canyon, although part of the subzone lies along the Miño.
The subzone extends over several towns: A Teixeira, Parada de Sil, Castro Caldelas and Nogueira de Ramuín. It’s home to wineries like Ponte da Boga, one of the largest wineries in the Ribeira Sacra, as well as plots like Cortezada, famous for giving name to one of Adega Algueira’s white wines as well as a wine (no longer made) from Fedellos do Couto.
Ribeiras do Sil's Climate and Soils
Many of its vineyards are located in and around the Sil Canyon, with sweeping views of the Amandi side of Ribeira Sacra, and others sit at the point where the Sil meets the Miño river in Os Peares.
Soils mirror those across the river, with lots of granite interspersed with small deposits of slate and schist. On the left bank of the Sil, across from Amandi, slopes are mostly northeast and northwest-facing, so vineyards here get morning and midday sun. Outside the canyon, there are many different orientations which give vines the chance to ripen at different rates. In the area around the Miño, mostly west-facing orientations mean vines get more afternoon sun.