Monterrei is the Galician spelling. The fortress on top of a hill still overlooks the vineyards, which lie south and north of the road between Madrid and Galicia, close to the Portuguese border. The area did not receive the D.O until 1996. status, although it has been the provisional D.O since the 1970s. status. There is a slow return of indigenous grape varieties and vinification methods, similar to those in the rest of Galicia, providing fresh, fruity white wines and young red Mencía wines. In addition, new investments are being made in the small family and cooperative wineries in the region. A lot of wine is still sold in bulk and people have just started processing indigenous grapes, but progressive bodegas already show the potential of the vineyards. The D.O. supports this development by awarding a Monterrei Superior classification to wines made with more than 85% of a native grape variety.