Albariño

Albariño is a variety of white grape indigenous to Galacia, northwest Spain, although its growth is also authorised in other countries such as Portugal. Simultaneously strong and delicate in flavour and body, Albariño is a complex white wine that’s admired by wine lovers the world over. Its floral fragrance and great acidity leads to a long finish, making it a great match for many dishes, especially seafood.

Albariño Tasting Notes

Lemon

Lime

Pear

Beeswax

Minerality

Albariño is a delightful combination of high acidity, an ethereal salinity, citrus flavours and a long dry finish. The granite soils of Rías Baixas can be picked up in the aromas, giving minerality to the wine, along with fresh lime and nectarine on the nose. For the palate, expect notes of lemon, lime, grapefruit, pear and even a hint of beeswax. With a bit of bottle ageing, those delicious fruity flavours develop into sweeter notes of peach and apricot, and sometimes more complex notes of nuts and almond will appear. Always tart and never too sweet, Albariño is easy drinking, but hard to forget!

Albariño Wine Style

Fragrant White Wine

Dry Sweet

High quality Albariño is intensely aromatic and of great complexity, always delivering a super-long and satisfying finish. It tends to age very well and develops nicely in the bottle too, which isn’t the case for most white wines. Light in body and low in sweetness, it is best suited as an aperitif, but also works brilliantly with almost any dish. Start by serving it cold, and then watch the flavours develop as the wine warms and begins to express itself.

Wine Regions

When you think about Albariño, Rías Baixas in northwest Spain is probably your first port of call. First brought to Galacia by monks all the way back in the twelfth century, Albariño has a long history with Spain, although has also been grown, to great acclaim, in Portugal’s Monção and Melgaço. In more recent times, Albariño production has been established in areas of France and also reached American soils, with more and more Albariño grapes popping up in vineyards throughout California, Oregon and Washington.

What Food Goes with Albariño?

Seafood is both synonymous with Albariño and Galician culture. Facing the Atlantic, with a long shoreline and a traditional fishing culture, it’s not surprising that the locals pair their Albariño with shrimps, scallops, crab and octopus. The refreshing citrus flavours of the wine pair magnificently with seafood. If you’re not a fan of fish dishes though, don’t write this fantastic white wine off! Top chefs and sommeliers happily pair Albariño with creamy chicken dishes, which the acidity cuts through, as well as many tofu dishes.

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