Cangas del Narcea
Asturias · Asturias
VC Cangas11.282inhabitants
1255first mention
1032wine documented
A municipality (concejo) in south-western Asturias, the largest in the Principality, in the Narcea valley. Its town grew out of the puebla founded by Alfonso X in 1255, beside the monastery of Corias (11th century, founded by Count Piñolo and Countess Aldonza); until the 20th century it was called Cangas de Tineo.
First mention: In 1255 Alfonso X granted Cangas its carta puebla (settlement charter). Some diplomas from 896–912 mention a monastery “next to Cangas”, but they are probably forgeries or 12th-century rewrites.
The legend
11th centuryThe vineyards of the monks of Corias
Around 1031-1032 Count Piñolo Jiménez and Countess Aldonza Muñoz founded the Benedictine monastery of San Juan Bautista de Corias, in the Narcea valley. There had already been vines in the area since the 9th century, but with the monks the vineyards spread across the slate slopes. The peasants paid their rents and foros (leasehold dues) to the monastery in wine and donated vineyards to it. According to the monastery's documents, Abbot Juan Martínez, who died in 1172, enlarged its vineyard holdings, and his successor Pedro Peláez went on planting. By the 15th century Corias was already leasing out vineyards in full production. Centuries later, in 1796, Jovellanos described the grape harvest in the Count of Toreno's vineyard in Cangas.
Alive today: Cangas wine has its own DOP (Vino de Calidad in 2008-2009, now DOP ‘Cangas’) with native varieties such as Albarín and Carrasquín, grown on very steep slopes. In 2000 Bodega Monasterio de Corias revived winemaking beside the old monastery. Over the Pilar bank holiday weekend the Grape Harvest Festival is held, a festival of Tourist Interest of the Principality.
Wineries and their wines
- Finca la Zorrina
- Guilfa Tinto
- Novicio
- Valdemonje Albarín Negro
- Valdemonje Carrasquín
- Valdemonje Verdejo Negro
- Danza Prima Tinto Plurivarietal
- La Danza Prima Blanco
- La Media Vuelta Albarín Blanco
- La Media Vuelta Albarín Blanco Roble Asturiano
- La Media Vuelta Albarín Negro
- La Media Vuelta Mencía y Carrasquín
- La Media Vuelta Verdejo Negro
Wine towns nearby