Albarino

Albariño is the white varietal which dominates the vineyard plantings of Galicia on  Spain’s Atlantic coast. It is ideally adapted to the harsh wet climate, yielding fresh elegant wines with a captivating floral bouquet and peach flavours and racy acidity.

It is believed that Albariño is a distant relative to the Riesling grape having found its way to Galicia with German pilgrims making the trip to Santiago di Compostella. It is a good natural accompaniment to the rich variety of Atlantic seafood.

Following the Atlantic coastline south of Galicia, the Portuguese Minho region grows the same variety, known locally as Alvarinho, which is used in the region’s Vinho Verde wines. It is often bottled with a youthful spritz and lemony acidity.

The ability to ripen in cool, rainy climates makes Albariño suitable to the more exposed vineyards of New Zealand and California, where it has been recently established.