Casa dos Toubes

Casa dos Toubes is an 18th-century pazo, a traditional Galician manor house, standing in the municipality of Cenlle at the heart of the Ribeiro wine region in Ourense province. Also known as Casa de Outeiro, the building sits alone on a hillside overlooking the Avia river valley, surrounded by the vineyards that have shaped its purpose for generations.

Where does the name come from and what is its history?

The manor takes its name from the Toubes family, long-time owners of the estate. The Catastro de Ensenada, an 18th-century property survey of the Crown of Castile, records Félix de Toubes y Somoza as owner of a two-storey house with a kitchen upstairs and stables and a cellar on the ground floor, located in a spot known as Outeiro. Over the centuries the building went through several renovations that altered parts of its original appearance, yet it still carries the scale and layout of a property that once held real standing in the area.

What is there to see on site?

The pazo follows a rectangular floor plan, with a working courtyard behind the main house. Around it are grouped the outbuildings typical of a Galician country estate: a large open shelter resting on polygonal pillars, and a space originally built for storing wine. That last function is the one that has carried through most visibly into the present — the estate now operates as a working winery and restaurant. Wines are bottled under the Toubes and Modus Vivendi labels, made mainly from the Loureiro grape, a variety closely tied to the Ribeiro appellation.

Visitors who come for the wine-tourism program can walk the estate grounds, taste three wines from the cellar, and sample local cheeses and preserves alongside them. It is this combination — historic architecture, vineyard landscape, and an active tasting program — that makes Casa dos Toubes a place where the region's past and its present wine trade meet on the same ground.

How do you get there and when should you visit?

Casa dos Toubes is located in Rioboo, in the parish of San Miguel de Osmo, within the municipality of Cenlle, a short drive from the main roads linking Ourense with the Ribeiro valley. A car is the most practical way to reach it, as local roads lead directly to the estate set among vineyards on the hillside.

The best time to visit runs from spring through autumn, when the vineyards are either green or being harvested and the weather suits walking the grounds. Booking a tasting or a restaurant table ahead of time is worthwhile, since the estate keeps a limited number of spots and is built around small-scale group and individual visits rather than high-volume tourism.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sets Casa dos Toubes apart from a typical Galician pazo? The estate has kept its working, productive side — the old wine-storage room has become an active winery, which is not the norm among historic manor houses in the region, many of which now serve purely residential or museum purposes.

Can visitors tour the inside of the manor house? Visits are organized as part of the wine-tourism program and cover the estate grounds and the wine cellar with a tasting, rather than a classic tour of the residential interior.

What wines can you taste on site? The tasting includes three wines produced under the Toubes and Modus Vivendi labels, based mainly on the Loureiro grape variety typical of the Ribeiro appellation.

Is there a restaurant at the estate? Yes, a restaurant serving regional dishes operates on the property alongside the winery and wine-tourism activities.