The gold rush that keeps on giving.

Over 2,000 years ago, the Romans rocked up in Galicia in northwest Spain.

This set off a chain of events that could lead to a delicious new Godello gracing your wine glass this weekend.

From mines to vines

The Romans found plenty of gold in Galicia. They found slate and iron too, which they used to help build their burgeoning empire.

They also noticed that rolling green hills and cooling Atlantic winds might suit something else they were very good at - planting vineyards and making wine.

And they were dead right - so wine was added to the list of goodies sent back home.

And from deeds to weeds

This is where Ana Gadín enters the story (although a bit more time has passed now).

Born in Santander to Galician parents, she spent the first 20 years of her career as a corporate lawyer.

During this time she met her husband, Javier, who came from a Galician family in Ribeira Sacra.

Over the years they spent lots of their spare time and weekends helping out at the family winery.

It wasn’t serious winemaking - just for friends and family - but Ana loved the work so much that she eventually decided to change careers and become a winemaker.

For special occasions only

These days, Ribeira Sacra is best known for deliciously light and aromatic reds, made from the Mencía grape.

Unlike nearby Valdeorras and Rías Baixas, you don’t find much white wine here.

This is because historically reds were much easier to make and were drunk daily (ahem, several times daily). Whereas white wine was more prestigious and kept for special occasions only.

Ana tells me that the first time the two families met, Javier’s grandfather gave her parents two bottles of Godello as a gift to impress them!

So when it came to starting her own winery, she wanted to restore this proud tradition of amazing whites from this special part of the world.

Introducing our latest Spanish sensation

I first tried Ana’s wines at a tasting last year in La Coruña, and her Silius Ferro Godello blew me away.

‘Ferro’ means iron - the wine is named after an ancient Roman iron mine right next to Ana’s Godello vineyard.

Which is not just a nice story… the soils here are red and full of iron, and this gives a real steeliness and intensity to the wine - just like a good Chablis.

It’s a classic Godello - lovely citrus, pear and herbaceous flavours on the nose, while the palate is intense, pure and lifted, with gentle hints of honey and mandarin peel on the finish.

You're in good company

Ana is a typical artisan winemaker from Galicia - managing tiny family plots, recovering precious old vineyards, and practising organic and biodynamic farming.

The result is a Godello bursting with character and charm that reflects all the hard work that’s been put into it.

Her volumes are tiny and savvy locals snap up most of it - so this is the first time the wine has made it outside of Spain.

Which makes me all the more delighted to introduce it to you!