Albariño is one of my favorite summer grapes. So, I decided it was time to do an Albariño tasting. We sampled four wonderful wines, from:
- Artesa, my favorite Albariño winemaker
- V. Sattui, my favorite Napa winery
- SuLei, a new winery to me in WA
- WineShop At Home, the Napa winery I’m affiliated with
The Origins of Albariño
This grape is grown in Spain and Portugal.
In Spain, the grape constitutes more than 90 percent of the grapes planted in the Rias Baixas area (see the left box). In Portugal, where the grape is called Alvarinho, or more commonly, Vinho Verde, it is grown in the Minho region (see the right box).
What Does This Wine Taste Like?
Albariño is light and refreshing with high acidity. The wine’s dry acidity makes it a perfect summer sipper.
The Grape Grind describes the wine as:
- “Bright: Albariño is very lively. There are a lot of bright, delicious aromas and flavors going on in this white wine, especially citrus and mineral!
- Clean: [This wine] is rarely oaked, which allows you to taste the true flavors of the grape. It can also have some ‘green’ flavors, which make it extra crisp and clean!
- Tangy: Albariño may make your lips pucker a bit. It’s citrusy, minerally, and has a good amount of acid, which can make it a fantastic food wine. However, there’s generally some creaminess from the lees to round it out!”
Some flavors and aromas to look out for: apricot, lime, orange, almond, mineral, nectarine, grapefruit, lemon, apple, bread dough.
Good Food Pairings
This wine pairs well with lighter foods, including fish, soft cheeses and leafy green herbs. Try this wine with sushi too. And even think about some Thai dishes that aren’t too spicy.
What are some of your favorite foods to pair with Albariño?
Our Tasting
Our tasting was incredibly fun. It was such a treat to get to try four Albariños at the same time. We loved all of them, but the clear winner was the V. Sattui one. I highly recommend buying this wonderful wine, which costs $38 a bottle.
