Many of us think only of Galicia when we think of this variety, but we must
remember that Godello is also commonly grown in the area between Galicia and León, as well as in the Portuguese region of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, where it is known as Gouveio. Of course, Valdeorras is the most famous region for this variety, where the vines trail along the slopes down to the Sil River. It is said that the winemaking there is “heroic”, and this is so true that, due to the steep slopes and rugged terrain, much more than mere knowledge is needed to carry out the harvesting. Since 2016, the numbers tell of little more than a thousand hectares in Spain, while in Portugal more than double that number was planted over the same period. It is also true that aside from Valdeorras, Godello can also be found in the regions of Galicia and El Bierzo.
Perhaps this second Galician variety is catching up — distances aside — with the well-known Albariño, in terms of the prestige of the wines from that region.
It is a versatile grape when it comes to production: it can be found on its own, as a monovarietal, but also as a participant in a blend. It gets along well with wood as it is well-equipped to handle the wood’s heaviness. It ages well, evolving over time.
It is said that Godello is an early-ripening varietal, which transforms into low-alcohol wines. In terms of aromas, this is a style of wine that is more impressive on the palate than on the nose; in other words, it will win you over on the palate. Its aromas
