Arbo, the galician capital of the lamprey celebrates the Festa da Lamprea (Lamprey Festival). 

 Arbo is a small wine town in the province of Pontevedra located in Galicia, Northwestern Spain separated from Portugal by the powerful River Miño.
  

A beautiful natural space that is very popular for its excellent gastronomy, fine wines, and for a rare species of fish that has existed for more than 500 million years, and can still be found in the River Miño. The name of this strange-looking fish (but very tasty!) that Arbo has such a reputation for is the Lamprea (Lamprey). There is no other municipality in Spain that has such a strong tradition and connection with this prehistoric and mysterious fish, lamprea arbo.

The lamprey, known as the vampire fish, has a set of devoted followers in Arbo who have been meeting since 1961 to eat it during this festival which is held every year and where they celebrate the Festa da Lamprea and Condado wines. The first Festa da Lamprea took place on April 16, 1961. Now, this year 2023 will be the 63rd edition of the Lamprey Festival, and it has been declared a festival of International Touristic Interest - LXIII FESTA DA LAMPREA - is taking place on April 28th, 29th and 30th, coinciding with the closure of the fishing season of the lamprea arbo, which opened three months earlier.

Thousands of lampreys, captured on their way up the Miño river to spawn, are cooked in the most imaginative ways, whether stuffed, in Bordelaise sauce, fried, dried, or in a pastry Empanada pie, at this festival which attracts over 20,000 people every year. All of this paired with some of the local Galician Bagpipe Music with the traditional dancing of the Folkloric Group A.C. A Barca do Loimil. There is also an exposition event during this festival called “Arbomostra” which promotes the gastronomy and wines of this municipality, here you can see stands displaying the local Condado and Albariño wines of the D.O. Rias Baixas, artisan products, and of course, different traditional dishes prepared from the Lamprey.

The sub-zone wine region of Condado and Albariño wines of the D.O. Rias Baixas

The municipality of Arbo pontevedra spain has excellent varieties of grapes grown to elaborate top-class wines with different contrasts. These wines are produced in the Sub-Zone Wine Region of Condado de Tea one of the five subregions that make up the Appellation of Origin (D.O.) Rias Baixas in Galicia, Spain. This region is located in the southeastern part of the Rias Baixas and is known for producing some of the finest Albariño wines in the world.

Albariño is a white grape variety that is indigenous to Galicia, and it is the most widely planted grape in the region. The grape is highly aromatic and has a distinctive flavour profile that includes notes of peach, apricot, and citrus, along with a hint of minerality. The wine made from Albariño is typically light-bodied, crisp, and refreshing, making it a perfect match for seafood dishes. The Albariño wines of the D.O. Rias Baixas are highly prized by wine enthusiasts around the world for their unique flavour profile and high quality. The wines of the Condado sub-region, in particular, are known for their elegance, balance, and complexity.

The climate of the Condado region is influenced by the nearby Miño River and the Atlantic Ocean, which creates a mild, humid climate that is ideal for grape cultivation. The soils in this region are mostly sandy and granitic, which allows for good drainage and helps to produce grapes with a high concentration of flavour and aroma.

The winemakers in the Condado region are committed to sustainable agriculture, and many of them use organic or biodynamic methods to cultivate their vineyards. They also use modern winemaking techniques to ensure that the wines they produce are of the highest quality.

Here are some of the wineries that you should visit while you are exploring the wine region in Arbo:

Bodegas Marqués de Vizhoja - A historic winery located in the Condado do Tea subzone of the Rías Baixas region in Galicia, Spain. This winery dates back to the 12th century when the estate was owned by the Knights of Santiago, who planted vineyards and produced wine for the pilgrims travelling to Santiago de Compostela. In the 17th century, the estate was acquired by the Vizhoja family (Don Mariano Peláez), who transformed it into a center of wine production. The family built a manor house, a chapel, and a winery, and planted more vineyards. The winery became known for its high-quality wines, and it began to focus on producing Albariño, Treixadura, and Loureiro wines, which are now some of the most popular wines in the Rías Baixas region. Bodegas Marqués de Vizhoja is still owned by the Vizhoja family (led by Sons/brothers Javier & Jorge Peláez) and is known for its commitment to quality and sustainability. The winery has won numerous awards for its wines, which are exported to different countries around the world.

Pazo Almuiña (Adegas Galegas - Martin Codax)  - This quaint historic manor house was built in the 16th century and is now owned by Adegas Galegas - Martin Codax. This Pazo (Manor house) was the heart of the social and cultural life of Arbo and in the 20th century, it became an important center of wine production in the Rias Baixas region. The vineyards are on the surrounding hillsides and produce high-quality Albariño in the cellars of the manor house. Today, the Pazo Almuiña is not only a winery but a wine country B&B you can stay in. A great option for exploring the wine country of Condado de Tea!

Other wineries not to miss (or buy a bottle or two of their wines!) are; Bodegas As Laxas, Bodega Pazo Pondal, Adegas Eidosela.

Can´t make it in person this year to the Festa da Lamprea in Arbo? Visit E&W virtual Live Streaming on YouTube...

The town council of Arbo (Concello de Arbo) pontevedra spain is a beautiful and welcoming destination that offers something for everyone. Whether you are interested in wine, nature, culture, food, and festivals, such as the Festa de Lamprea which you can experience from the screen of your device in our virtual live-streaming tour coming up this Sunday., 30th of April, 2023 at 01:00PM (GMT+2)...

Come and visit this charming municipality of arbo pontevedra spain in the heart of the Rías Baixas wine region!