Ronsel do Sil is a project by one of Spain's first female winemakers, María José Yravedras. She is considered a pioneer in a male-dominated wine world. At the same time, it's a family project: both her husband, Felipe Pérez-Somarriba, and their two daughters support Maria José. Everyone contributes their part, and every bit of support is appreciated to continue the vision and spirit of the original bodega.
After countless winding roads, one arrives at the winery, which lies at the bottom of steep slopes with a breathtaking view of the Rio Sil and the vineyards of the Amandi zone on the opposite side. The vineyards of Ronsel do Sil belong to the D.O. Ribeira Sacra and are located in the subzones of Ribas do Sil and Val do Bibei. This historically significant region with its Atlantic character is renowned for its heroic viticulture on traditional stone terraces. Because of the steep slopes and difficult-to-access locations, viticulture here is extremely labor-intensive, as the use of machinery is impossible. The name “Ronsel,” which describes the wake of a passing boat, symbolizes the winery’s aim to leave a sustainable and passionate mark on the wine and cultural landscape of the region.
The original old winery was restored and reactivated in 2010 by María José and Felipe. As both oenologists and architects, María José Yravedra and Felipe Somarriba designed the winery so that winemaking is carried out exclusively by gravity, maximizing the quality of Ribeira Sacra wines. With ten hectares of vineyard area, the entire harvest is done by hand on the terraced vineyards typical of the region.
María José Yravedra follows a clear philosophy for the winery: “In a time when everything is digitized and automated, we rely on natural processes with minimal intervention. Each bottle of Ronsel do Sil is a tribute to the landscape, a small work of art intended to evoke emotion and foster a deeply rooted reflection on climate. The collection of ancient grape varieties of Ribeira Sacra requires great dedication and inspires us to explore the essence of the unknown and to appreciate it in the present. Working daily with nature is a continuous learning process – although extremely demanding, it is rewarding in every way.”
Location and soils
The Ronsel do Sil winery is located in the heart of the Ribeira Sacra, surrounded by spectacular nature near the small village of Sacardebois and close to the Parador de Santo Estevo and the Santa Cristina Monastery. The vineyards' soils are primarily slate and granite.
Vines
The winery produces wines from native white grape varieties such as Godello, Dona Branca, and Treixadura, as well as red varieties such as Mencía, Merenzao, Brancellao, and Caíño. A rosé wine is also produced.
Climate
The climate in the Ribeira Sacra is a temperate Atlantic microclimate, characterized by mild winters, warm summers and significant temperature fluctuations between day and night, which promotes the development of aromas and gives the wines freshness and balance.
The white wines at Ronsel do Sil are gently pressed, often with stems, without destemming, and fermentation occurs spontaneously with native yeasts at controlled temperatures of around 17–19°C. They frequently age on their fine lees in stainless steel tanks or wooden barrels, without filtration or clarification, in order to preserve their natural character. For red wines, the grapes are usually fully destemmed and also fermented spontaneously with native yeasts. During fermentation, either the remontado method (pumping over) or gentle bazucado (punching down the cap) is used. After fermentation, the wines are naturally clarified without using press wine, and then aged, depending on the style, in stainless steel tanks or oak barrels.
The wines are made primarily from Mencía , complemented by rare and traditional varieties such as Merenzao , Brancellao , Sousón , and Caíño , which enrich each bottle with unique character. The Muller Cepa is a tribute to women, honoring their role and hard work in the vineyard. In addition to the Muller Cepa, the monocepages Pórtico de Gloria , Alpendre , and Al Pie del Cañon are limited and small productions.
The white wines - all mono-vines made from the indigenous grape varieties Godello, Dona Branca and Treixadura - are a homage to the Ribeira Sacra and impress with their freshness and minerality.
The red and white wines from the Vel'Uveyra collection—meaning "look at the vineyard" in Galician—captivate with their character. The rosé, a rather unusual wine and one of the few in the region, impresses with its color, fruity aromas, and subtle minerality.
Sustainable and biodynamic practices: The winery relies on natural farming and biodynamic principles, including manual soil cultivation, composting with broom shrubs, and the use of sheep for natural vineyard management. In the cellar, a gravity-flow system is used instead of pumps to move the wine gently. Ageing takes place in old wooden barrels and concrete tanks, with minimal use of sulfur, to highlight the character of the native grape varieties.
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