Rodriguez Mendez of Forjas del Salnes has been named winemaker of the year in the Tim Atkin Rias Baixas Report of 2025.
Rodrigo Mendez is one of Galicia’s cult producers. ‘Forjas del Salnes’ is named after his father’s ironwork forge. The winery has vines dating back to 1912, and local access to a number of old vineyards, including the 150-200 year old vines used to make O Genoveva. Rodrigo’s history in the area has been vital to the success as he was able to find and secure the use of ancient plantations, some of which were long-abandoned, and bring them back to life.
Forjas del Salnes was born in a garage winery in 2005 their philosophy is to respect the authenticity of the region’s native varieties and wine making processes. To nurture small plots resulting in wines that reflect the rich terroir sites that they come from – turning back the clock to make wine in the way that it used to be made.
Forjas del Salnes wines
