An Introduction to the Galicia region of Spain

Galicia is located In the far northwest of Spain and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Cantabrian Sea to the north. The inland Galician region is defined by rolling hills and several mountain ranges to the east and south where the region meets Portugal. 

The largest city within the Galician region is A Coruña which is located in the Golfo Ártabro, a large gulf where the city bustles with around 250,000 inhabitants. The city is surrounded by azure blue waters and boasts a large white sand beach that opens up to the Cantabrian Sea to the north. 

The political and central capital of the Galician region is the city of Santiago de Compostela, which attracts more than 200,000 pilgrims each year who culminate once completing the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route (known in English as the Way of St. James).

Alongside many historic buildings scattered throughout the city lies the old town district, where a wealth of tapas bars and exceptional restaurants serve local Galician cuisine. 

Other significant city centers within the Galicia region are the seaside cities of​​ Vigo and Pontevedra, and inland there are the regional cities of Ourense and Lugo (which is noted as the only city in the world to be surrounded by completely intact Roman walls).

Galician food and fresh produce

Due to the regions access to the cool waters of the Atlantic ocean, seafood and fish ingredients feature prominently in many of the dishes from the Galicia region. Dishes such as Polbo á feira (octopus soup) and Percebes (known as Goose barnacles in English) are just two such examples.

Another staple of the Galicia region is the humble potato. Galicia benefits from one of the highest annual rainfalls in Spain, providing lush green meadows that are ideal for year-round growing of a range of seasonal crops, fruit, and vegetables. 

Agriculturally farmed products are steeped in history in Galicia and produce such as maize and wheat are staples in the Galician diet, with various artisan bread being made throughout. 

Galicia’s climate is also perfectly suited for its well-established dairy farming sector, providing the region with a variety of rich cheeses, milk, and other dairy products.

With fertile grazing land, Galicia has a strong animal husbandry sector, offering excellent quality meat products, poultry, and game meats.

Some typical Galician dishes include:

• Polbo á feira (octopus soup)
• Pulpo a la gallega (Galician octopus on a bed of potatoes)
• Empanada galega
• Caldo gallego (soup)
• Lacón con grelos (meat and potatoes)
• Androlla (pork sausage)
• Botelo or butelo (pork sausage)
• Mejillón de Galicia
• Mejillones rellenos (Bilbao + Galicia)
• Pementos de Padron (Padron Peppers)
• Ternera Gallega 
• Percebes (known as Goose barnacles in English)
• Zamburiñas A La Gallega – Galician Scallops

Galician Cheese Production

Galicia has a thriving cheese and dairy scene that is bolstered by the stunning interior landscape. With gently rolling hills and large grazing plains, abundant rainfall year-round, and a strong history of animal-husbandry and dairy farming, Galicia is a cheese lover heaven and offers a wide variety of delicious cheeses and dairy products! 

Cebreiro is an unripened or ripe, mushroom-shaped cheese made from pasteurized cow’s milk produced in the province of Lugo. Unripened Cebreiro is white, grainy and soft, very creamy in texture, and melts in the mouth. The flavor is slightly sharp and piquant.

The ripe version of this cheese is more yellow in color, harder and denser in texture, and has a more pronounced piquancy and sharpness.

Typical Galician Deserts:

• Filloas (Galician crêpes)
• Bica (sponge cake)
• Tarta de Santiago
• Tarta de requesón (Galician Cottage Cheesecake)
• Melindres Gallegos (Galician Gingerbread)

Galician Wine

The Galician region is certainly not the first Spanish region that comes to mind when you speak of wine, but in recent years, Galician wine has seen a resurgence and has garnered significant exposure and acclaim from the international wine scene for the Rías Baixas region and its Albariño white wines. 

The Galicia region has 5 Denominacións de Orixe (DO) including; Monterrei, Rías Baixas, Ribeira Sacra, Ribeiro and Valdeorras.

White wine remains the most prominently produced wine in Galicia, with native grape varieties such as the Albariño accounting for around 90% of the region’s wine production.

Throughout the region, there are 12 different grape varieties grown, including the red wine grapes of Mencía and Espadeiro.

Galician Albariño white wine

The Albariño white wine is often fruity, fragrant, and dry in taste, with most wines having an alcohol content over 12%. One of note is the Vizconde de Barrantes.

Typical Galician Drinks include:

Queimada – made from pomace brandy (orujo), sugar, coffee beans, and lemon zest. Licor de Orujo is a Spanish liquor made by fermenting and distilling the grape marc (the leftover stalks, skin, and pulp) after the grapes have been pressed. 

Orujo de Galicia – (also called “aguardiente” or firewater) is distilled from grape skins, leftover from wine production, frequently made in people’s garages and sheds, and often contains high alcohol content.