Vilanova de Arousa. Baión Fortress (Pazo)

About this heritage

In the Baión´s parish, « Vilanova de Arousa », there is a rustic property with its own identity that is dedicated today to the Albariño wine production : The Pazo Baión (Baión´s Fortress or manor-house). The 287 hectares that surround it are dedicated to this type of grape plantations and, the building to the agricultural tasks and as a warehouse – all of them of stone. The Pazo Baión became very popular because it was owned by the drug dealer Laureano Oubiña, later it became a symbol of the fight against drug dealing. It currently belongs to the “Condes de Albarei” winery.

Pazo Baión´s walls keep the history of the most important Galician noble families behind them. Founded in the 15th century by the Sarmiento family, Pazo Baión would house some of the Galicia´s most outstanding lineages: the Figueroa, the Camba or the Soutomaior. Among its centuries of history the Galician emigration is also mentioned; Don Adolfo Fojo, a wealthy emigrant returning from Argentina bought the property and carried out the major reform of the old fortress, giving it the architectural structure it currently has, with the two Victorian towers. He would also command the construction of a dairy and a cellar. The last heirs of Don Adolfo Fojo sold the property in the 70s, when the first technical plantation of Albariño Rías Baixas was carried out. This vineyard then became a reference for professionals in the sector. The sales contract included a major social project, whereby 5 percent of sales were allocated to prevention, treatment and reintegration programmes for drug addicts.

In addition, Conde de Albarei undertakes an architectural and landscape reform in the state under the Galician architect Cesar Portela´s baton, who won the National Architecture Award, thanks to which this jewel of our artistic and cultural heritage relives its most golden age.

To learn more

Pazo Baión is part of the O Salnés idiosyncrasy. A clear example of the Galician manor-house architecture, with origins in the 15th century, this distinguished property of 30 hectares has one of the most spectacular vineyards in the wine´s world panorama. Today it has a Rías Baixas Denomination of Origin winery operated by Condes de Albarei.

The first building was a medieval tower-house, owned by the Priegue family. The current one, began to be built in 1928 by the “Fojo” family, from which it received its surname during most of the century in which they lived, known as the “Finca dos Fojo” (Fojo´s land).

In 1987 it was acquired – for a value of 275 million pesetas (old Spanish currency) – by a partnership created by three residents of the area: Laureano Oubiña, Sito Miñanco and Pablo Vioque, being Laureano and his wife Esther Lago the owners. They were the most notorious smugglers of the decade. Finally the Pazo was confiscated in 1995 as part of the “Crab Operation” (Operación Nécora), and seized by judge Baltasar Garzón. In 1996 the State leased its management to Freixenet.

In 2007 the Coordinating Board of the Drugs National Plan finally takes the Pazo to a public bid. In 2008 it became the property of the Cambados Cooperative, “Condes de Albarei” which offered 15.102.000 euros for this rustic property, compared to just over thirteen million of the other two aspirants. In September 2008 the state began its rehabilitation process with an ten million euros investment to prepare the land and make it more profitable.

This project includes the construction of a reception centre for visitors and the winery reconditioning to optimise its wines, by producing nearly 160.000 bottles of white wine per year. This new reform includes the remaining modules of the building, for that they count on architect César Portela´s help, converting the Fortress into an wine tourism centre with more than 50.000 visits per year.

This renewal process includes the creation of a new brand and a corporate image for the historic complex, a strategy to eliminate completely its link to the drug dealing. To this end, a tender is organised with a jury composed of: Isaac Díaz Pardo, César Portela, Antón Patiño, Francisco Leiro and José Manuel Casabella. The winner was Lucas Gil-Turner, from Madrid, with his project “Metamorphosis”.

The last sales contract stipulated the destination of a percentage of the operating revenues. Thus, the Pazo should provide work over the next fifteen years to a percentage of drug addicts in the process of rehabilitation, with the objective of facilitating their incorporation into the labour market. Another of the commitments acquired by the Galician Winery, as indicated above, was to derive 5% of the annual turnover of the Pazo to prevention, treatment and reintegration of drug addicts programmes.

To know it better

In the Baión´s parish – belonging to the Pontevedra municipality of “Vilanova de Arousa” – there is a classic Galician property dedicated to the Albariño Rías Baixas production. It is about the “Pazo Baión” (Baión Fortress). In this manor house Laureano Oubiña, a very important Galician drug dealer, lived with his wife Esther Lago when they acquired the property in 1987. After being arrested by the “Crab Operation” (Operación Nécora), the place was put up for public auction. In 2008 it was acquired by the “Condes de Albarei” winery.

The company decided to remodel the estate and its 30 hectares, to be used for viticulture and wine tourism. In fact, at the moment guided visits are carried out to explain its history, the elaboration and conservation of the wine, and the possibility of wine-tasting is also offered. It is located in a natural environment with panoramic views.

The City Council of Vilanova de Arousa is located in the Pontevedra´s province. Integrated in the O salnés region, it is a place with antiquity and, therefore, with history.