HGA Bodegas, Spain
The largest independently owned vineyard in the O Rosal subzone of the Rías Baixas, producing premium, lees-aged Albariño and other indigenous varieties such as Caiño & Loureira.
They are based near the town of Tomiño, a short drive from the rugged Atlantic coast. It also forms the world famous pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela for those coming up from the South. O Rosal is the joint warmest of the subzones, with over 2,200 hours of sun each year, which gives its wines a rounded, fuller finish than others in this, the wettest & greenest part of Spain.
The next chapter for HGA is investment in the Northern subzone; Ribeira do Ulla, in which they are planting over 120 hectares of Albariño, to help with the ever-growing demand for this premium white grape.
To learn more about the region, head to the Rías Baixas commission’s website or check out Tim Atkin’s superb Top 100. 
Altos de Torona Range
The winery’s name, is also their flagship brand family; Altos de Torona, which is a range of single varietals and their Rosal blend, which is their best-known product within the domestic market, a blend of Albariño, Caiño & Loureira (D.O Rosal).
They produce these as single varietals, alongside the now on-trend Godello. All have 6 months on their lees, after the cold maceration process that is becoming a signature of the wineries in the Rías Baixas.
This process steeps the wines, like a cold-brew coffee, allowing for more flavours and character to be present in the final product, enhancing both aromas and structure.
The Rías Baixas has always commanded a higher price point than other white production areas in Spain, we are now seeing this increase with demand soaring and production at capacity, the wines now sit on our shelves around £12-15 and wine lists around £30-35.
The Albariño grape accounts for over 90% of the estate’s vines, and even their entry level wine benefits from 2-3 months ageing.
In the UK, you can find HGA’s ‘Albanta, Sobre Lias’, from the O Rosal estate (Altos de Torona) through the members of the Society of Vintners.
This wine is aged on its lees, (the skins of the grapes and yeast cells that are left after the initial fermentation and pressing stages) for four months, providing a rich concentration that is rare at this price point.
The winery is also oak ageing Albariño wines, producing a still D.O Rías Baixas Barrica, after 6 months in French 300 litre barrels, the wine also forms part of the base of their Traditional method Sparkling wines. Both a Brut and Brut Nature are produced in the cellars at Bodegas Altos de Torona, the former being my personal preference and a real surprise when first tasted, proof that aromatic grapes can make great sparkling wines.
If you would like to taste, do get in touch with us and we can arrange a sample for #ukwineimportersHGA Bodegas & Bodegas Regina Viarum
Within the same building, you will also find wines from other regions (Rueda, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Monterrei, Ribeiro) where the family now own vineyards and work with bottling partners in each area to ensure D.O status is maintained. However, the HGA (family-owned) Bodegas success story began further inland, with Bodegas Regina Viarum in the Ribeira Sacra, a lesser known denomination of Galicia that is located on the banks of the river Minho & Sil, the Minho is the same river that forms the border between Spain & Portugal at Portugal’s most northernly points. Famed for its incredibly steep banks, it has an average aspect of >85% and the winery have demonstrated this ‘Heroic Viticulture’ on their labels.
Regina Viarum produces whites from Godello, a stunning rosé, but is best-known for its Mencia; the winery produces a range from light, fresh unoaked up to bold & spicy reds that have benefited from oak-ageing. Parts of the estate are organic and they have recently opened a new restaurant, with stunning views.