My great grandfather, Luis Rodriguez was born in Ourense, in the northwestern part of Galicia, Spain, and my mother told me he was very fond of drinking the local white wine from that region, known as Albariño.
City of Ribadabia, Ourense - Galicia
Albariño grapes originated in Galicia, the mystic land of the ancient Celts, and it is a varietal produced in Portugal as well. During the twelfth century, Cluny monks were the first to produce this wine and its name "Alba-Riño" means "the white wine from the Rhine", as it has similarities with the Riesling that originated in the Alsace Region of France.
Finis Terre -Galicia
Albariño’s big production is concentrated at the Rias Baixas, which is located in the southern part of Galicia on the Atlantic Coast. The weather conditions are perfect for this type of varietal as it is cool and rainy, with strong winds from the Atlantic Ocean allowing the vines to dry after it rains. The Albariño grape usually has thick skin which contributes to an intense aroma with scents of almond, peach, flowers, and grass. This wine should be drunk when it is still young so you can enjoy the grape’s tartness.
Experts agree that Albariño, has a similar aroma to Viognier and Gewurztraminer as they share apricot, peach notes, and high acidity. Today, you can also find good Albariño produced in the Santa Ynez Valley and in Clarksburg, California.
During summer, I enjoy the zesty and crisp taste of Albariño, and usually pair it with either grilled halibut, roasted mushrooms, shrimp, raw oysters or steamed clams.
Enjoy the Spanish flavor of Albariño, and dream about Galicia and the mystic land of Spain.
TIP OF THE WEEK
My argentine friend and wine lover Majo Bellettieri loves to drink red wines and her favorite one is the Pulenta Estate, 2008 Malbec La Flor which has profound violet hues, robust cherry, almost mint flavors and other spices. Cheers!
No comments:
Post a Comment