Paco & Lola

Paco & Lola was established in 2005 when roughly 20 independent winegrowers in the O Salnés area joined forces under the cooperative name Sociedad Cooperativa Vitivinícola Arousana. The primary motivation was securing fair pricing for their grapes. Over two decades, the membership has grown to more than 400 growers, making it the largest cooperative within DO Rías Baixas. The brand name and its signature polka-dot bottle design were created deliberately for export markets, chosen because the name is easy to pronounce in both Chinese and American markets while retaining a clear Spanish identity.

• Legal name: Sociedad Cooperativa Vitivinícola Arousana
• Founded 2005 in O Salnés, Val do Salnés sub-zone of Rías Baixas
• Over 400 member-growers contributing fruit from 1,800+ individual plots
• Annual revenue exceeds €5 million

All vineyards sit within the Val do Salnés sub-zone of DO Rías Baixas, a low-lying coastal area with elevations below 300 feet. The maritime climate brings abundant rainfall and humidity, tempered by cooling Atlantic breezes. Soils are sandy loam over granite bedrock and are slightly acidic, typical of Galicia's coastal terrain. The fragmented 200-hectare estate is divided into more than 1,800 separate plots, reflecting the minifundio land ownership pattern historic to the region.

• Val do Salnés sub-zone, DO Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain
• Sandy loam, granitic, slightly acidic soils
• Maritime climate with high rainfall and Atlantic-cooled temperatures
• Elevations below 300 feet across all vineyard sites

The cooperative grows exclusively Albariño, though it also produces wines from Mencía and a sparkling range. In the vineyards, the traditional emparrado overhead trellising system is used to maximize both sunlight exposure and airflow around the canopy, an important measure in this humid climate. Grapes are hand-harvested and transported in 20-kilogram boxes to preserve fruit integrity. In the winery, the flagship Albariño is fermented in stainless steel at 16°C for 21 days, then aged on fine lees to build texture and complexity.

• Exclusively Albariño in the whites; also produces Mencía and sparkling wines
• Traditional emparrado (overhead pergola) trellising for airflow and sunlight
• Hand-harvest in 20kg boxes to minimize oxidation and fruit damage
• Fermentation at 16°C for 21 days in stainless steel, with fine lees ageing

Paco & Lola is an active member of the LIFE+ Viñas Atlánticas (Atlantic Vineyards) sustainability project, a European Union-backed initiative focused on reducing the environmental footprint of Atlantic viticulture. The cooperative was the first Spanish winery to achieve certification compliance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, a distinction that reflects its commitment to social, environmental, and economic responsibility across its entire operation.

• Member of EU-backed LIFE+ Viñas Atlánticas sustainability project
• First Spanish winery to achieve SDG certification compliance
• Sustainability covers environmental, social, and economic pillars