Tolo do Xisto, translated as "mad about slate," is the statement of intent by winemaker Andrea Obenza and Coca i Fitó. In 2013, we decided to reflect the courage, dedication, and above all, the passion for cultivating vineyards in a land as challenging but incredibly rewarding as the Ribeira Sacra through elegant, fresh, and mineral wines.
Tolo do Xisto is a tribute to the Atlantic landscapes, the persistence of the winemakers, and the wild beauty of the Ribeira Sacra.
The impressive landscapes and steep terraces of the Ribeira Sacra wind their way between the Miño and Sil rivers in the heart of Galicia.
In the final stretch of the Sil River, between 200 and 500 meters in altitude, the gorges, rock walls, and vertical vineyard slopes, worked for millennia, rise above the winding waters of the river. This is one of the most magical and seemingly inhospitable places in Galicia, the Sil River Canyons. These unique geographical conditions pose a challenging, almost impossible viticulture that only true vineyard lovers are willing to undertake.
Fully appreciating the uniqueness of the Sil Canyons involves understanding how climate fluctuations influence this landscape. The predominance of an Atlantic climate, especially in the shadier areas, contrasts with the microclimate of the sunny slopes, with much more continental influences.
The identifying element of Tolo do Xisto and the common thread of our wines is slate, which, along with granite and quartz, forms the shallow soils of the terraces in Val do Frade, in the municipality of Vilachá de Salvadur, within the Sil Canyons.
The mineral character of the slate soils imparts concentration and a very characteristic mineral depth to our wines.
Amid the imposing scenery of Val do Frade, Mencía reveals itself as the queen variety of the region. In the hands of Andrea Obenza and Toni Coca, this grape not only adapts perfectly to the difficult conditions of its birthplace but excels in authentically expressing the slate terroir of the terraces rising by the river.
We work three hectares of sunny terraces with vines over 50 years old between 300 and 600 meters above sea level. We practice respectful and sustainable viticulture, employing manual techniques and sexual confusion to protect the vine. Os Conventos is our oldest and most cherished plot. The old vines rest on rocky soils, with very little organic matter and low productivity, making them harvestable only in exceptional vintages.
