The Ribeira Sacra DO produces wines from vines grown on terraces carved into slopes so steep that harvesting is done entirely by hand. The main grape is Mencía, making fresh, aromatic reds with a floral lift and mineral backbone quite different from the heavier Tempranillos of central Spain. A small amount of Godello white is also produced. These wines rarely leave Galicia, making tasting them here part of the experience.
Several small bodegas around Chantada and Monforte de Lemos offer tastings, usually by appointment. Adega Algueira (in Doade, on the canyon rim road) has been one of the region's leading producers for years and offers a dramatic tasting room view over the vineyards. The local restaurants in Monforte serve Ribeira Sacra wines well; ask the house what they recommend rather than choosing from the wine list.