Godello (Spain)
Godello is a white wine grape from the province of Galicia in Spain.
Godello Flavors
Godello wines are known for their complexity and balance.
Expect strong and zesty flavors, like a mix of citrus and green apple blended with sweeter fruits like yellow pear, peach and melon. There will also be floral or herbal notes and touch of salt and minerals the soils of granite, clay and slate.
 Lemon |
 Apple |
 Pear |
 Peach |
 Melon |
 Jasmine |
 Herbs |
 Flint |
Godello Profile
Godello wine often has a medium to full body with a refreshing acidity, providing a crisp and clean finish.
| SUGAR: | Dry (3 g/l) |
| BODY: | Medium Plus |
| FRUIT: | Medium - High |
| ACIDITY: | Medium - High |
| ALCOHOL: | 11-13% |
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Serving temperature: 8-10°C (46-50°F) |
Godello Food Pairing
 Tapas |
 Salad |
 Avocado |
 Asparagus |
 Crab |
 Lobster |
 Grilled Fish |
 Chicken |
 Salmon |
 Pasta |
 Risotto |
 Cheese |
Salads
Fresh salads with citrus dressings, avocado, or goat cheese will highlight the bright flavors of Godello.
Seafood
Like most wines from a region close the coastline, Godello is a great wine with all sorts of seafood.
The crisp acidity and citrus notes of Godello pair beautifully with a variety of seafood dishes, such as grilled fish, shrimps, oysters, and ceviche.
Poultry
Roast chicken or turkey, especially with lemon and herb seasoning, complements the wine's fruit and floral characteristics.
Light Pasta Dishes
Pasta with olive oil, garlic, and seafood or light vegetable sauces can enhance the wine's delicate flavors.
Lemon Meat
Cotoletta alla Milanese.
The Ideal Glass for Godello
A Tulip Shaped Glass with a slightly smaller bowl can be suitable for various dry white wines.
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The glass guides the wine to the center of your mouth, avoiding the sides where acidity is less pleasant.
A smaller bowl also helps to serve smaller quantities, and keep the wine cold. It also helps if you hold the glass by the stem! |
Godello Cheese Pairing
Fresh and Mild Cheeses
Mató: Godello's bright acidity and refreshing character will complement the subtle tanginess of this cheese, making it an excellent pairing choice.
Goat Cheese (Feta): The tanginess complements the subtle fruit notes in Godello.
Ricotta: Especially good if served with a drizzle of honey or fresh fruits.
Soft Cheeses
Serra da Estrela: Godello lively acidity, stone fruit flavors, and mineral notes will provide a refreshing contrast to the creamy texture of a Serra da Estrela
Brie: The creamy texture and mild flavor work beautifully with Godello.
Fontina: Its nutty, buttery qualities make a good match.
Semi-Soft
Manchego: A classic Spanish pairing, especially younger Manchego, which is less intense.
Gruyère: Mildly nutty and sweet, enhancing the wine's subtlety.
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About Godello
Godello it is largely grown in the north-west of Spain, close to the Portuguese border, in the regions of Valdeorras, Ribeira Sacra, Bierzo and Monterrei.
Godello is a Spanish rescue project. The grape was nearly forgotten, when a couple of enthusiastic wine makers brought it back to the world of important Spanish wines.
Chardonnay met Albariño in a bar sometimes in the 70s, and 9 months later they gave birth to Godello.
Joking aside, today Godello is, beside Albariño, one of Spain's best white wines.
Godello can, like Chardonnay, be very different in style, with or without oak in the vinification.
Steel-tank Godello is crispy, fruity, and mineral, while oak-aged Godello is more full body and creamy like Chardonnay.
Oaked Godello is primarily sold to the American market.
Wine Region Galicia
Galicia is a located in north-west Spain.
It is best known for its crisp white wines Albariño and Godello.
Black Grapes
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White Grapes
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Mencía |
Albariño Godello Treixadura |
Red Wines
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White Wines
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Ribeira Sacra |
Albariño Godello Treixadura |
Soil
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Climate |
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Alluvial Granite Schist Slate |
Hilly Cool Climate Atlantic Ocean |
Galicia DO Regions
Galicia has 5 Denominación de Origen:
Rias Baixas (DO 1988)
Rias Baixas DO (lower Rias), close to Portugal, is known to produce the best Albariño in the world.
In Portugal the same grape is called Alvarinho.
Ribeira Sacra (DO 1996)
Ribeira Sacra is best known for the dry red wine Ribeira Sacra from the Mencía grape.
Ribeiro (DO 1932)
Ribeiro is the oldest DO in Galicia
White wines represent 95% of the wine produced in Ribeiro, and is most common is Treixadura.
Monterrei (DO 1994)
Monterrei has become a relevant wine region after of the wines were praised by wine critic Robert M. Parker in 2008.
Valdeorras (DO 1945)
Valdeorras is a historic Galician wine region.
Located along the Sil River valley, it is famous for its native Godello white and Mencía red wines, which thrive in a unique microclimate and mineral-rich slate soils.
Godello is the undisputed star of the region. Nearly extinct fifty years ago, it was successfully rescued and now produces elegant, crisp white wines with notes of stone fruit, minerality, and vibrant acidity.
Mencía is the flagship red grape, yielding medium-bodied wines with red berry aromas, fresh acidity, and subtle earthy or floral undertones.
Geography & Climate
Location: Spanning 1,000 hectares in the northeastern part of the Ourense province, acting as the "Gateway to Galicia".
Soil: Vineyards sit primarily on steep, terraced slopes rich in slate, granite, and quartzite.
Climate: Transitional Mediterranean-Atlantic. It is Galicia's most inland sub-region, featuring warmer summers, cold winters, and high sun exposure that optimally ripens the grapes.