Mantequerías Arjeriz

By now, I have done a great job at depicting what a hedonistic, self-​indulging brat I am as I prattle on and on about eating percebes, getting a healthy dose of vitamin D in Nigran, or drinking a glass of Cigales rose wine on a hot summer day. When I tell my friends and family how incredible Spain is and because the stories cannot do some of these cities and pueblos justice, I’ll bring back some sort of gift from where I used to live (in the Pontevedra province of Galicia) — this way, everyone can live vicariously through the gifts and stories. Usually, but not always, this takes the form of wine or orujo [1] — and thank goodness for Mantequerias Arjeriz!
The wine selection, especially for wines from Galicia (the appellations that are most commonly sold are Rias Baixas, Ribeira Sacra, and Ribeiro), is of very good quality. Whenever I need to bring back premium wine (okay, I’ve brought back Don Simon, the cheapest of wines and definitely not sold here, for a friend also) or food that is very characteristic of Galicia (sweets such as tarta de Santiago or cooking ingredients such as grelos — these are special greens that are difficult to find outside of Galicia and are used to make caldo Gallego, a very typical soup/​stew of the region), I’ll head to Mantequerias Arjeriz because it is a one-​stop shop and everything is artisanal. You’re not going to find your Carrefour [2] tarta de Santiago here — you’ll find a cake that is produced by a family-​owned bakery with a shop that is just a few steps away from the cathedral.
The store itself is beautiful; all of the shelving is of a dark-​colored wood and the counter to purchase charcuterie and cheese is very neatly organized. I am also a huge pain and ask for all of the boxes to be gift-​wrapped individually, which the shopkeeper always does without complaining. So until I can take everyone to Spain with me, a little gift will have to do…
[1] Orujo is a very typical liquor of Galicia:
[2] Carrefour = the European Wal-​Mart