Growing of grapes and production of wine are particularly important in the township of Ibias, with 25 ha of grapevines today. This is the second township with most wine production in Asturias, after Cangas del Narcea. In Candín there is neither a tradition nor any crop; whereas in Navia de Suarna there is only 1 ha of vineyard.
The first testimony of wine production in the neighboring areas of Bierzo and Cangas de Narcea is from the 9th century, but until the 15th century we have no evidence of it at Ibias. In the end of the 19th century vineyards were acutely hit by various plagues: phylloxera, mildiu (“downy mildew”, caused by Plasmopara viticola), and oidio (“powdery mildew”). Resistant vine types were introduced, but ultimately the urban exodus from the second half of the 20th century meant the abandonment of traditional wine culture. In recent years, the popularity of Asturian wines with the protected designation of origin Cangas has brought new life to wine production. This includes wine in the Asturian townships of Allande, Cangas del Narcea, Degaña, Grandas de Salime, Ibias, Illano, Pesoz and Tineo.
Vineyards benefit the sunny and sheltered hillsides under 500 m elevation, often in steep slopes. When cultivation is in small plots there are normally no terraces, but bigger extensions do make use of these structures. Because of these reasons, mechanisation is nearly non-existent. Most production in Ibias is for domestic consumption, although the demand on behalf of the designated wineries of Cangas is increasing.
The specialised research group on viticulture (Misión Biológica de Galicia of the CSIC) directed by María del Carmen Martínez Rodríguez, is carrying out a novel study on wine production in the Iberian Northwest. They are determining and classifying the various vines used, creating seed and databanks, a herbarium, pictures, etc. They are also carrying out a study on the historical documentation associated with wine production, using written and iconographic sources, especially baroque altarpieces which feature grapes whose varieties can be identified.
The vine trellises are a characteristic image of some villages in the area, such as Marentes.