The sub-zones of Rosal and Condado have a long history of grape growing and wine production and have their own traditional styles.

Val do Salnés is located on the lower reaches of the river Umia [es] and centred on the town of Cambados.

O Rosal is located further south, along the Portuguese frontier in the basin of the river Miño and extends from the Atlantic coast inwards towards the town of Tui.

The warmest is Condado do Tea where temperatures in summer sometimes approach 40 °C (104 °F), but the winters are cold with frequent frosts and rainfall of over 2,000 millimetres (79 in) a year.

The regulatory Council (Consejo Regulador) of the Rias Baixas DO currently authorises twelve different grape varieties, though Albariño represents over 90% of all vines planted.

The vines are trained along granite posts (called parrales) and wires so as to protect them from humidity and to maximise their exposure to the sun in summer.