Manuel Formigo
Ribeiro, Galicia
Since the beginning of Nativo Wine Club, we have been searching for a producer in Galicia who truly encapsulates the region’s unique wine-growing culture and reflects our passion for family winemakers dedicated to preserving traditional grape varieties and winemaking methods. After some time, we were thrilled to find Manuel Formigo and his winery, Finca Teira.
Manuel is one of 6,000 colleiteiros in the region—a term used for small producers in Galicia who are capped at producing 60,000 litres of wine and are prohibited from purchasing grapes, relying solely on estate-grown fruit. He began making his own wines in 2006 in the basement of his grandparents’ house, which is about 200 years old. You can’t get more traditional than that! In 2013, Manuel moved to a larger winery, built underground, to accommodate his growing production.
He owns about six hectares of vineyards, the majority of which are planted with white grape varieties. These vineyards are located on the hills on the right bank of the Avia River, where some of the best soils in the region can be found. His vines are planted in sábrego soil, a loose, granite-based soil that’s well-exposed to the sun. Manuel’s philosophy is centered on working with traditional grape varieties, especially Treixadura, and he places great emphasis on harvesting each variety at precisely the right time. In terms of winemaking, Manuel aims to express the purity of each grape, focusing on spontaneous fermentation and using stainless steel to give a clear representation of each variety’s attributes.



About Ribeiro
Ribeiro is a Galician wine region located in the northwestern corner of Spain, with a winemaking history that dates back to Roman times. Although the region isn’t widely known today, it was once a major wine-exporting region, particularly favored by the English. However, when Spain went to war with Britain, Ribeiro wines were replaced by Port wine. Since then, wars, pests, and diseases have caused a steady decline, and by the 20th century, Ribeiro was primarily known for bulk production and local consumption wines.
In recent years, there has been a slow but significant increase of interest from winemakers to revive and showcase the region’s native grape varieties. This renewed focus has led to growing consumer interest, particularly as wine lovers look for more distinctive wines from lesser-known regions.
The region covers about 2,600 hectares of vineyards and is home to 6,000 colleiteiros, which makes it challenging to introduce innovations or make collective decisions. However, this ensures that production remains very local and family-driven, with traditional winemaking methods still being widely practiced.
Ribeiro’s proximity to the sea and its location in the valleys of three rivers create a particularly humid environment. The region receives significant rainfall (800-1,000mm per year) and is prone to frost, making it a disease-prone area that requires a lot of vineyard work. To combat these challenges, winemakers like Manuel practice careful vineyard management, including canopy control and timely harvests, ensuring the grapes ripen optimally despite the difficult conditions.
The characteristic soil of Ribeiro, sábrego, is granite-based, loose, well-oxygenated, and low in organic matter (about 2-4%). These soils are ideal for the vines, offering slight stress and excellent drainage, which is crucial in such a humid climate.
Most of Ribeiro’s production is dedicated to white wines, with only a small proportion of red wines produced. The presence of international grape varieties is nearly non-existent, with the focus remaining on traditional, local varieties.
These additions provide a clearer context on Ribeiro’s revival of native grape varieties and how winemakers mitigate the region’s climatic challenges, which should help round out the region’s profile more effectively.

Region
Alt Penedes, Catalonia

Hectares
8

Organic
