Manuel Formigo

Ribeiro

Location Beade, Ourense
Grapes Treixadura, Godello, Loureira, Caiño Blanco, Torrontés, Albariño, Alvilla do Avia y Palomino
Viticulture Organic
Producer Manuel Formigo
Website https://fincateira.com/
Location Beade, Ourense
Grapes Treixadura, Godello, Loureira, Caiño Blanco, Torrontés, Albariño, Alvilla do Avia y Palomino
Viticulture Organic
Producer Manuel Formigo
Website https://fincateira.com/

We are delighted to represent the wines from Manuel Formigo. Born into a winemaking family, Manuel sought a career in IT consultancy before being asked to return to the Adega Teira after the death of his Grandfather, Tino, in 2006. He moved the estate away from the industrial practices of the time and focused on working the finest plots by hand and occasionally horse and where all the pruning and harvesting is done by hand. Among the five hectares is a small parcel of the rare Albilla de Avia variety which Tino spent his life protecting from extinction (Manuel believes they have the last plot in the region). The Adega is now 6 hectares principally located around the cellar in the Avia valley, where granitic sand banks make up most of the terraces, and a small parcel in the Mino with clays and limestone soils. The estate has become a cradle of varieties native to Ribeiro. Manuel carries on his grandfather’s legacy in protecting these by showcasing the oldest planting of indigenous vines in Ribeiro. All wines are fermented in stainless steel, with no MLF, and all are produced from free run juice, except the Formigo Blanco which is free run and press wine blended. The wines are finessed, energetic and beautifully poised, and are among the most highly regarded in the DO.

Manuel Formigo Wines

Formigo Blanco 55% Palomino with additional press juice of Treixadura, Loureiro, Albilla de Avia. Stainless steel. No MLF. Bright clean nose with a touch of yellow fruit and saline twang on the palate. This wine is the classic everyday drinking wine of the region elevated to superstar status
Tiera X A blend of Treixadura, Loureiro and Albilla de Avia from an ancient plot sat on granitic sand. Stainless steel. No MLF. Complex, intense wine with lemon citrus core, softly textured midpalate, full of energy. Old vines show off in the concentration and length.
Tino 100% Albilla de Avia. Single parcle old vines. Granitic sand soil. Stainless steel. No MLF. This rare variety was kept alive by Tino, Manuel's Grandfather. There are now only a handful of parcels of this variety but the style of wine is electric and we can see it making a comeback. Aromatic, full of citrus and floral elements, mineral core and citrus wax and box leaf notes on the finish. A truly fascinating and delicious wine.
Finca Tiera Tinto 70% Caino longo and 30% Souson and Brancellao from two plots, Pousos and Minoteira (0.65 ha) with decomposed granite soils (Sobrego) over bedrock. The harvest is done by hand, and the bunches are selected on the vines and transported to the winery which is 5 minutes away in 150kg loads to preserve integrity. Fermentation is in stainless steel vats and there are 2 pump overs a day for 14 days and then pressing in pneumatic press prior to settling in steel tank. The wine is bottled three months after MLF finishes. It has fresh, vibrant cherry infused nose, bright ferric notes and a vivid violet undertone. The palate has layered fruit, cherry, violet and blackberry, with velvet tannin and long finish.
Formigo Blanco 55% Palomino with additional press juice of Treixadura, Loureiro, Albilla de Avia. Stainless steel. No MLF. Bright clean nose with a touch of yellow fruit and saline twang on the palate. This wine is the classic everyday drinking wine of the region elevated to superstar status
Tiera X A blend of Treixadura, Loureiro and Albilla de Avia from an ancient plot sat on granitic sand. Stainless steel. No MLF. Complex, intense wine with lemon citrus core, softly textured midpalate, full of energy. Old vines show off in the concentration and length.
Tino 100% Albilla de Avia. Single parcle old vines. Granitic sand soil. Stainless steel. No MLF. This rare variety was kept alive by Tino, Manuel's Grandfather. There are now only a handful of parcels of this variety but the style of wine is electric and we can see it making a comeback. Aromatic, full of citrus and floral elements, mineral core and citrus wax and box leaf notes on the finish. A truly fascinating and delicious wine.
Finca Tiera Tinto 70% Caino longo and 30% Souson and Brancellao from two plots, Pousos and Minoteira (0.65 ha) with decomposed granite soils (Sobrego) over bedrock. The harvest is done by hand, and the bunches are selected on the vines and transported to the winery which is 5 minutes away in 150kg loads to preserve integrity. Fermentation is in stainless steel vats and there are 2 pump overs a day for 14 days and then pressing in pneumatic press prior to settling in steel tank. The wine is bottled three months after MLF finishes. It has fresh, vibrant cherry infused nose, bright ferric notes and a vivid violet undertone. The palate has layered fruit, cherry, violet and blackberry, with velvet tannin and long finish.