Alvarinho /Albariño
Northern Portugal / NW Spain / Let’s just call it the NW Iberian Corner – Great summer wines that match perfectly with hot days and seafood. This area has ocean front property, so it was made to match with our friends from the sea.
The same grape is Alvarinho is called in Portugal and Alberiño in Spanish, and also tasty). There is debate if the wine grape is native to the region, or a transplant from Alsace, France, (and related to the wonderful Pinot Gris of that region) or even from the Romans or the Celts. To me that sounds like a debate to be had when drinking too much of this tasty wine, when logic paves way to who is the loudest and funniest.
There are some things we know for certain about wine. There are records of it from the Middle Ages. It was used primarily as a blending grape before the plague that shall not be named changed everything. After that Albariño / Alvarinho started becoming a star on its own. The quality steadily improved, and the establishment of the Rías Baixas Denominación de Origen (DO) in 1980 further solidified the region’s quality standards and propelled Albariño onto the international stage.
Alvarinho means “white-ish”, as per the grape. This actually makes sense and is interesting. In Latin the word for white is not something that sounds like “Blanco” as you would expect, but rather “album”. So you can see the connection. “Blanco” comes from the Old German language. I can see I am off on a tangent now, so I’ll stop.
Back to the wine. Slightly salty. Mineral taste. Can be slightly bitter. Can have a drop of fruit. Super easy wine to drink. Try it with some salty grilled shrimp, or monkish. Affordable elegance.
Everyday
- Santiago Ruiz
- Martin Codax
A little Nicer
- Forjas de Alén Albariño
- Nortica (love this wine!)
Something Special
- Pie Franco
- Cíes Albariño