Torrontes

An obscure Galician white grape variety is thought to owe its perfumed floral aromatics to a distant Muscat family parentage. Only small pockets remain in Galicia although it is gaining ground as this region, on Spain's Atlantic coast, is revived by the thirst for elegant dry white wines.

Torrontes has struck out an existence in South America, particularly in Argentina where it has established a high quality profile and is widely cultivated. There is an Alsace-like quality to the best examples; dry yet sweetly perfumed and rich with exotic fruits and balancing citrus acidity.

In neighbouring Uruguay, the Pisano family took cuttings from Argentina to produce their full-flavoured, spicy Torrontes which has been awarded the world's top Torrontes trophy in Buenos Aires.

 In Chile and Peru it is cultivated for distillation, as a base for the aromatic grape spirit 'Pisco'which has become a very fashionable ingredient in cocktails.