Adega do Demo: A Galician Winery with a Rebel Spirit

Iván González Gaínza
Sep 26
3 min read

The Story Behind the Name

Every winery has a story, but few begin with a family prank that became legend. Adega do Demo owes its name to Carlos Lorenzo’s grandfather, Moisés - a mischievous character known in the village for his late-night antics.

Together with his brother, he would climb a nearby hill and blast his bagpipes, startling the villagers from their sleep. Amused and perhaps a little exasperated, they dubbed him 'O Demo da Ronca' - “the snoring demon" - as it sounded like the devil had been let loose.

This playful nickname eventually inspired the winery’s identity. It’s a fitting reminder that while winemaking is a serious craft, it’s also rooted in joy, personality, and the quirks that make each estate truly unique.

From Family Vineyards to Adega do Demo

Carlos and Laura at their winery, Adega do Demo. The photos shows them and 4 amphorae. The photo was taken at harvest time in September 2024.

Laura Rodríguez and Carlos Lorenzo began tending family vineyards in 2005, but their first official vintage didn’t arrive until 2017. Starting out in a friend’s cellar with a wine called Bitoku, they quickly made a mark with their focus on native Galician grapes, organic farming, and minimal-intervention winemaking. By 2018, they had moved into the historic 19th-century Bodega da Lonia, bringing new life to its old stone walls.

Carlos and Iván at Barcelona Wine Week, where they initially met.

A Meeting at Barcelona Wine Week

We first met Carlos at Barcelona Wine Week, and it was one of those encounters that stays with you. Warm, passionate, and genuinely curious about others, Carlos immediately struck us as someone who wasn’t just making wine - he was building a philosophy around it. His close friendship with other producers we already work with made the connection even more natural. It felt less like discovering a new winery and more like being introduced to a friend we hadn’t yet met.

Why We Chose Adega do Demo for Our Catalogue

At Wine Industry Mallorca, we look for wines that not only taste exceptional but also tell a story. Adega do Demo fit perfectly. Carlos’s respect for the vineyard, his refusal to compromise on authenticity, and the vibrant personality of his wines align with our philosophy of celebrating independent producers.

Each bottle - whether the aromatic Bitoku, the expressive Tinto do Demo, or the rare Piotr K - feels like an honest reflection of Galicia’s terroir and of Carlos himself.

That’s why we’re proud to share them in our catalogue and online shop.

A Taste of Adega do Demo’s Wines

These are the wines we currently feature in our catalogue and online shop:

Acea do Miño – A vibrant expression of the Ribeiro D.O., Acea do Miño is crafted from Caiño Longo and Sousón, two native varieties that reflect the unique terroir of this historic region.
Bitoku – A fresh, elegant white wine crafted from Treixadura and Loureira, Bitoku takes its name from the Japanese word for “virtue.” It embodies the seven virtues of Bushido, a philosophy that lies at the heart of the winery’s approach to winemaking.
Tinto do Demo – A highly esteemed unfiltered red wine blend (Caiño Longo, Sousón, and Brancellao) that has been aged for 10 months in French oak barrels. This wine shows depth and authenticity.
Piotr K – Produced in tiny quantities, Piotr K is a 100% Loureira wine inspired by the anarchist thinker Peter Kropotkin, echoing his ideals of autonomy and collaboration. As one of the winery’s most personal concept wines, it highlights the true potential of Loureira.

Each wine is organic, fermented with wild yeasts, and bottled without fining or filtering. They are pure, characterful expressions of Ribeiro.

Visiting Adega do Demo in Galicia

Located in Alongos, Ourense, Adega do Demo is a boutique winery where visitors are welcomed with genuine Galician hospitality. From white to red, rosé, orange, and even an Ancestral, the range reflects both tradition and experimentation. Walking the vineyards, you’ll see cover crops, wild grasses, and soils alive with biodiversity - proof of Carlos and Laura’s belief that great wine begins with healthy land.

Conclusion: More Than a Winery, a Partnership

Adega do Demo is more than just another addition to our portfolio. For us, it represents friendship, authenticity, and the excitement of working with people who care deeply about their craft.

Carlos and Laura’s wines remind us why we fell in love with wine in the first place: not just for what’s in the glass, but for the stories, the people, and the shared passion behind every bottle.