The wine of the Land of Cangas

Nowadays, for a decade, new processors have tried to save an enviable heritage.

Although the humidity of the Bay of Biscay does not seem to favor wine harvests, the truth is that in Cangas del Narcea it enjoys a unique microclimate, giving rise to a vineyard full of native varieties. The Cangueses wines currently have five wineries attached to the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI): Monastery of Corias, Muriella, Chicote, Chacón Buelta and Bodegas Vides and VIno de Asturias. With this denomination the Cangas wine has a protection and differentiation within the European Union.

The geographical area of ​​production It includes the councils of Cangas del Narcea, Ibias, Grandas de Salime, Illano, Allande and Pesoz, also Degaña, which currently has an important winery that uses grapes from Asturian production. It is in all cases a light wine with touches of wood, good taste, a certain acidity and whose graduation is balanced: 10,5 minimum grades for red wine and 9,5 for white.

Its methods of elaboration follow traditional formulas. The different types of native grape What we can find are: Carrasquín, Berdejo and Albarín. The one with the highest production is Mencía imported at the end of the 19th century after the plague of phylloxera. The color of red wine varies between violet red and purple red, while that of white varies between straw yellow and yellowish green. According to the wine tasting there are two types of grapes that stand out above the rest: the albarín negrín and the white albarín; being especially this last one in which they deposit more confidence the bodegueros. Attending to the tastings, the general properties of the different crops can be summarized in these attributes: humid cave aroma, some pillory, and

light in the mouth with a point of acidity reminiscent of cider.

The vineyards in this area they are planted in slate soils, usually on a slope and they are older than 80 years. The vineyards are formed by small payments that shape a labyrinthine and somewhat chaotic landscape. The plantation of the vineyards ranges between 3000 and 6000 strains per hectare, setting the maximum production of grapes per hectare in 10.000 Kilos, and all the producers and wineries received must undergo various controls, through the declaration of the harvest and notification of the date of the harvest.

Harvest Festival in Cangas del Narcea

It is precisely the harvest, and more specifically the harvest festival which annually shows all the know-how and good wine of this land to all those who come to the town of Cangas del Narcea.

From 7 to October 21 the downtown streets of the village are filled with craft stalls and traditional products. Strongly escorted, the cart and the grapes parade through the streets, ready to be stepped on as tradition dictates in the Plaza de la Oliva, in front of the basilica of Cangas. To the sound of bagpipes and drums, and headed by the different brotherhoods that meet, the car of the country advances among those present to the square. The grape is transported in maniegas and is stepped on without more help than the bare feet of the waiters. After this act in an adjoining tent a monumental espicha based on native products and more Cangas wine is celebrated. Throughout the day there are free visits to the Bodegas del Narcea and the most traditional of the popular Santiso neighborhood.

At any time of year we can get closer to two museums or wine interpretation centers in the area. One is located in Pesoz, and in him the history of the elaboration of the wines of the municipality is presented to us. In its cellar the broth is elaborated, training courses are given and tastings are made.

The other center is situated on its own villa of Cangas del Narcea, and its origin is linked to the presence of a small monastery from the beginning of the 11th century. The building, two centuries old, has as its centerpiece of its exhibition an old press destined to make the tread of the grape.