Godello wines from Northwest Spain are yet another great example of the tremendous value still to be had from that country. The Valdeorras wine region is on the Eastern border of Galicia, just North of the Northeastern corner of Portugal, with a mostly continental climate of hot Summers and cold Winters, but with a bit of moderation from the Atlantic. Vineyards in the area have been farmed since at least the Roman era. The Godello (go-DAY-oh) grape is indigenous to Galicia, and very possibly to Valdeorras, as this is where the grape thrives the most and is by far its most planted grape, making complex, age-worthy wines. The winery is named after the patron saint of the vineyards of the area, the Virgen de Galir, and is located along the road of the pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago. Maruxa (ma-ROO-sha) is the Galician version of Mary with this bottling named after the founder’s mother. Flavors of heather, hay, pear, yellow plum, grapefruit zest, mint, lanolin, with a full and round mouthfeel but with cleansing bitterness and acidity, and a finish of dried apple.