Considered to be one of Rías Baixas’ most influential wineries, Terras Gauda is renowned for their stellar, estate-grown white wines made 100% from native varietals.
Terras Gauda
Terras (Land) Gauda (Happiness) was founded in 1989 by the Fonseca family in a southern sub-region of the D.O. Rías Baixas. Located on the banks of the Miño river, bordering Spain and Portugal and close to the Atlantic Ocean, Terras Gauda’s wines are mineral-driven, complex, and representative of their distinctive schist-rich terroir.
Antón Fonseca
Antón Fonseca, principal of Terras Gauda in the DO Rías Baixas, expanded the winery group founded by his father, Jose Maria Fonseca, in 1989 to include Quinta Sardonia along the banks of the Duero River, in addition to three additional properties in the DOC Rioja, DO Bierzo and the DO Monterrei. SRaised near the vineyards, Antón and his sister Carmen developed a passion for the terroir and restoring heirloom varietals such as Caiño Blanco.
After studying business at the University of Santiago de Compostela and furthering his wine education with WSET, Antón expanded the group’s distribution throughout South America. He now serves on key wine industry boards and continues to build upon his family’s winemaking legacy in Spain.
Emilio Rodríguez Canas
Emilio Rodríguez Canas has been Terras Gauda’s Director of Winemaking since 1999 and is a pioneer in Galician research and development. Known for creating the first clonal selection of the Albariño grape using experimental micro-fermenters. His winemaking features 100% skin-contact maceration, temperature-controlled fermentation with patented yeasts, and sur-lee aging without malolactic fermentation.
With a strong educational background, he holds degrees in Pharmaceutical Science, Enology, and Viticultural Studies, along with postgraduate studies in Business and Cooperative Management, Emilio is widely recognized as a key innovator in the Spanish wine industry.
Winery
Considered one of Rías Baixas’ most emblematic wineries, Terras Gauda routinely produces award-winning white wines made from estate-grown fruit that surrounds the winery. Located in the southern-most Atlantic-facing sub-zone of the D.O. Rías Baixas, Terras Gauda’s wines, including Abadia de San Campio and O Rosal, are fermented with native yeasts, aged sur lie for a minimum of two to three months, individually numbered for quality control, and the O Rosal bottles are individually hand-wrapped in water-resistant paper.
Sustainability
At Terras Gauda, sustainability is at the core of their viticultural and winemaking practices. Their commitment to the environment is reflected in their consistent sustainable approach, ensuring long-term soil health, biodiversity, and responsible resource management.
Terras Gauda’s Sustainable Vineyard Practices:
- Vermicompost application to enhance soil structure and fertility
- Manual canopy management for precise vine care and reduced mechanical impact
- Utilization of winery by-products to produce in-house compost, enriching vineyard soils naturally
- Microbiota recovery initiatives to restore and maintain soil biodiversity across all vineyard site
Soil Health & Certifications:
- Implementation of the Better Soil program, focusing on regenerative soil practices
- Official certification received under the Better Soil project, with an emphasis on organic intensification management
Sustainable Winemaking & Packaging:
- Patented native yeast (isolated and inoculated) to preserve the authenticity of Galicia’s terroir.
- 100% recycled cardboard and paper in all packaging materials.
- Lightweight glass bottles (under 500g), made entirely from recycled materials to reduce environmental impact.
Brand Assets
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