The autonomous community of Galicia in northwest Spain is the Iberian Peninsula's coolest corner—but it's so hot right now.

This is where the rain in Spain mainly falls, with lush green hills, mountains and meandering canyons sprawling inland from the craggy Atlantic coast.

The city of Santiago de Compostela has drawn pious pilgrims for centuries, but Galicia has endured times of famine and hardship, where it was more famous for people fleeing than filing in.

Happily, it's in a good spot right now, enjoying fame for its unique, Celtic-esque culture, the warmth of its people, the beauty of its shoreline, the delicious bounty of its seafood and—yes—the brilliance of its wines.

Noah Chichester fell in love with this area when he went there to teach English. He ended up staying for a few years, becoming fluent in the language and knowing its wines and growers inside out.

His website, winesofgalicia.com, is an indispensable authority on Galician food, wine, tourism and culture.

Our conversation here centred on Noah’s formative years and how his passion for wine and Spain came about.

We also talk about navigating Galicia from a visitor’s point of view, looking at the character of the people and where they live.

He also takes us step-by-step through the five Galician DOs—Denominaciones de Origen, or Protected Designations of Origin—looking at the winegrowing conditions, grape varieties and styles of the wines.

The Albariño of Rías Baixas is the drop-off point for most people, but there is so much more besides, with an exciting array of grape varieties across varied, and evocative, landscapes.

We also recorded a bonus episode, where Noah offered a range of recommendations on wines to try from all of the DOs, from gateway bottles to artisanal treasures.

You’ll find additional video content on my website to give you a sense of these places we talk about, and I cannot recommend Noah’s website highly enough if you find yourself being sucked into the seductive world of Galician wine.

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