Founded in 1977, Vilerma is owned by Arsenio Paz and Chon Labrador. They acquired A Vilerma, a site settled centuries ago, which faces south and to the west from the slopes of Gomariz and the curves of the Avia River, the quintessential cradle of Ribeiro wines. They converted the local production from kiwi to grape back in the 1970's, when the demand for Galician white wine grew.
The Ribeiro Denomination of Origin is in Southern Galicia, on the North-West edge of the province of Ourense, where the valleys formed by the Miño, Avia, Arnoia and Barbantiño rivers meet. It has 2,685 hectares of vineyards in the villages of Ribadavia, Arnoia, Castrelo de Miño, Carballeda de Avia, Leiro, Cenlle, Beade, Punxín and Cortegada, and in parts of the boroughs of Boborás, San Amaro, Toén, Carballiño and Ourense. The vineyards cover areas of varying altitudes, from 75 to 400 meters above sea level, in valleys and on sometimes very steep hillsides on terraces known as "socalcos" or "bocarribeiras" that follow the contours of the hills.
There are 7 hectares (17.36 acres) of vines which mainly consist of the Ribeiro production varieties: Treixadura, Torrontes, Godello, Albariño, Loureira & Lado Treixadura grape: Distinguished, harmonious and rounded, Treixadura is the top white variety in the Ribeiro vineyards; it is perfectly suited to the area and is the expression of the full potential of the region. It is gradually being planted to take over from other varieties that are less suitable for the area. It is irreplaceable in the Ribeiro district and was the main variety responsible for the legendary reputation earned by the region's wines.
