Aba Solleira is a small winery in Ribeira Sacra, one of Spain’s most authentic and dynamic wine regions, specialized in Mencía. The higher-altitude plots benefit from better ventilation, less humidity, and significant day-to-night temperature variations. In these conditions, the day heats up, but the nights get cool with temperature differences of up to 20ºC in the three to four weeks before the harvest.
From dream to reality
Founded in 2017 by agronomists and winemakers Carlos and Emi, Aba Solleira is the result of their lifelong dream. After years in the industry, they founded the winery in 2017 in Ribeira Sacra, a region deeply connected to Emi’s heritage, to restore abandoned vineyards and craft wines that reflect the region’s rich history and character.
Granite and slate soils
Aba Solleira cultivates 3 hectares of vineyards, combining estate and leased plots. The ground, particularly all the life it contains, has formed over millions of years without human intervention and Carlos & Emi strive to preserve its natural balance.
The winery cultivates plots of granite origin, light and sandy, where the limitation of nutrients and water gives us soft, aromatic and fresh wines. While slate and schist plots (where the rock alternates to higher levels of clay) give more intense wines with more tannin.
Sunny hillside
In all their plots the orientation is south or southwest, maximizing sun exposure in Ribeira Sacra’s Atlantic climate.
The name ABA SOLLEIRA means “sunny hillside” in Galician, a tribute to this.
Simple philosopy
Carlos and Emi’s philosopy is simple: great grapes make great wine. If the vineyard has the best possible grapes, the wine practically makes itself. They look for aeration in the grapes and balance in the vines for health and maturation.
In the winery they closely oversee the process without relying on heavy technological interventions. They feel that winemaking should be about taking the necessary steps to express the terroir to craft a pleasant product.
The Wines
Aba Solleira produces two distinct Mencía wines, each reflecting its unique terroir. Both wines showcase the finesse and authenticity of Ribeira Sacra.
Aba Solleira Mencía comes from granite soils, offering a fresh, aromatic profile with elegance and balance.
Aba Solleira Selección Personal, from slate soils, is richer and more structured, aged 12 months in French oak for added depth and aging potential.
Ribeira Sacra: a wine region with ambition
Ribeira Sacra, located in the provinces of Lugo and Orense, comprises 20 municipalities and consists of five subzones: Amandi, Chantada, Quiroga-Bibei, Ribeiras do Miño and Ribeiras do Sil.
The Ribeira Sacra is a wine-producing area with an area of 1,300 hectares of vineyards.The vineyards are situated on steep terraced slopes along the Sil and Miño rivers, making harvesting particularly challenging. The region is best known for the red mencía grape . Around 85% of the region consists of red grapes, 90% of which is mencía. Among the other 15% of white varieties you will find Godello, Treixadura, Dona Branca and Albariño. Although many wines are still produced traditionally, there is a strong ambition to improve quality, and in 1996, the region obtained D.O. status.
