🥃 Orujo de Galicia
Grape pomace spirit from Galicia: no flavouring or added alcohol, from 37.5 to 50% vol., ageing from 1 year.
Orujo de Galicia is an EU geographical indication for a grape marc spirit from Galicia: the raw material comes from grapes of the vineyards of this autonomous community, and distillation and ageing take place there as well. The strength is from 37.5 to 50% vol. EU protection dates from 12 June 1989.
The technical file sets its own limits: methanol from 200 to 950 g/hl of pure alcohol (the lower limit confirms that the raw material is pomace), higher alcohols from 225 to 600, ethyl acetate up to 250, acetaldehyde up to 150, copper up to 9 mg/l. The pomace is stored without access to air; lees up to 25 kg per 100 kg. Distillation is in batches together with the pomace, below 86% vol., traditionally in alembic stills.
Adding other alcohol is prohibited at any stage, and so is flavouring with any additions. Young orujo may be sold in the year of production. Aged orujo spends at least a year in oak or another permitted unvarnished wood, in casks of up to 1000 l; topping up is allowed only for evaporation, up to 1.5% per quarter, and only with orujo of the same age. Caramel is permitted only for aged orujo.
Producers are guided by the Regulatory Council of the GI of traditional spirits and liqueurs of Galicia, and control is carried out by the Galician Institute of Food Quality (Ingacal). Labels are approved by the council, and each bottle carries its seal or back label. A variety may be stated if it provides at least 85% of the weight of the grapes. The technical file mentions the first cooperative distillery in A Rúa in 1909.
Why this matters to you. This name guarantees Galician pomace and a pure distillate without herbs: Galicia's herbal and coffee drinks have their own GIs. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| EU category | 6 (grape marc spirit); GI PGI-ES-01914 |
|---|---|
| Raw material | pomace and lees of grapes from Galician vineyards |
| Distillation method | in batches together with the pomace, below 86% vol., in Galicia |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | from 37.5 to 50% vol.; methanol 200-950 g/hl of pure alcohol |
| Minimum maturation | not mandatory; aged: from 1 year |
| Cask type | oak or another permitted unvarnished wood, up to 1000 l |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Orujo de Galicia → kind of → 🍇 Pomace spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Next step
- 🍷 Alcoholic fermentation
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Wine label
- Made from
- 🥃 Pomace, 🥃 Lees
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🍇 Pomace spirits, 🥃 Orujo
- Related to
- 📍 Galicia
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Grappa, 🥃 Marc
Frequently asked questions
What is Orujo de Galicia?
An EU GI for a grape pomace spirit from the vineyards of Galicia; distillation and ageing take place in Galicia, at a strength of 37.5 to 50% vol.
Is it true that Orujo de Galicia comes with herbs?
No. Flavouring it is prohibited; Galicia's herbal drinks are separate GIs, "Aguardiente de Hierbas de Galicia" and "Licor de Hierbas de Galicia".
How is Orujo de Galicia aged?
For at least a year in oak or other permitted unvarnished wooden casks of up to 1000 l; topping up is allowed only for evaporation (up to 1.5% per quarter) with orujo of the same age.
Why is there a minimum limit for methanol?
According to the technical file, pomace consists of skins, seeds and stems, so methanol is always present in the distillate; the limit from 200 g/hl confirms that the raw material really is pomace.
How can genuine Orujo de Galicia be recognised?
By the GI name in Galician or Spanish and by the seal or back label of the Regulatory Council on the bottle.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Alcoholic fermentation — Yeast eats the sugar in the must and releases alcohol and carbon dioxide.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Grappa — Italian grape pomace spirit, an EU geographical indication: at least 37.5% vol.; «invecchiata» means 12+ months in wood, «riserva» 18+.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Grappa siciliana · 🥃 Grappa friulana · 🥃 Grappa lombarda · 🥃 Südtiroler Grappa · 🥃 Grappa veneta · 🥃 Marc d'Auvergne
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- eAmbrosia: technical file «Orujo de Galicia» (PGI-ES-01914), Ref. Ares(2017)37087 (EN)
- eAmbrosia — EU register of geographical indications: Orujo de Galicia (EUGI00000015360)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks, Annex I, category 6 (Grape marc spirit); Art. 37
- AGACAL (Xunta de Galicia): Ficha técnica IIXX das Augardentes e Licores Tradicionais de Galicia, 2025 — Orde do 5.5.1989 (DOG 97), Orde do 3.1.2012 (DOG 10, 16.01.2012)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)