A wonderful wine made from local variety Godello, Minius smells clearly of golden orchard fruits like ripe pear and apple. There are hints of fennel, citrus and subtle florals too, and the palate is a beautifully balanced rich style – there is fat there for sure, but it is cut with delicate herbal bitterness and an excellent freshness to finish.

Valminor are a classic producer of textural white wines and fragrant reds (plus a few liqueurs and vermouths!) from the regions of Rias Baixas and Monterrei, both found in far north-western Spain, not far from the Portugese border. Relatively new to the scene, they were founded in 1997 and as such, bring a modern approach to their wines. The wines are clean, fresh and filled with aromas of bright fruit and the mineral kiss of the soils. The winery, run by gun winemaker Cristina Mantilla (who has been working the vines since this winery started!), owns 35 hectares of vineyard are, and buys some grapes from a collection of local growers, however somewhat unusually they take control of the viticulture themselves, ensuring full control. Everything is harvested by hand, and the wines are not rushed along. They ferment slowly and the resultant mix of fruit and minerals is wonderful to behold. Although the focus is on the Rias Baixas wines, they produce two wonderful wines from the inland region of Monterrei, when the local Mino river extends and winds its way. Their philosophy extends naturally here, and the wines have the same grace and flow.