Albariño is widely planted on the Iberian Peninsula. Its home turf is Ríaxas Baixas DO in Spain and the Vinho Verde DOP in Portugal. The versatility of Albariño as a grape variety has given birth to various styles of wines; yet in the interest of classic styles we focus on the dry still white wines.
Commonly used names and synonyms for Albariño are Alvarinho, Galego, Padernã (Portugal) – (Robinson et al., 2012)
In this article, we are going to focus on the classic style particularly from the region Rías Baixas in Spain, following a structure commonly used by wine institutions like Court of Master Sommeliers (COMS) and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). We will also look at how does it compare to other varieties including Grüner Veltliner and Sauvignon Blanc.
Appearance
Pale straw core often with a green sometimes slightly golden hue
Aromas and flavours
Fruits: citrusy (grapefruit, candied lemon), white peach, nectarine, yellow/golden apples, just ripe pear
Floral: white flower, honeysuckle (fresh and dried)
Others: saline and often mineral pronounced notes
Sweetness
Dry – but often with fruit sweetness
Acidity
Moderate to moderate plus
Alcohol
Moderated – 11.5% and above but rarely over 13.5%
Body
Rounded, balanced and moderate
Comparison to others
Grüner Veltliner: normally has more pronounced acidity and a vegetal note (beans, asparagus, cabbage, etc)
Sauvignon Blanc: more herbal and vegetal with a more punchy acidity level
What makes it unique
Aromatic and fruit driven, pronounced acidity with a rounded mouthfeel, saline and refreshing quality
Classic examples
- Albariño, Martin Codax
- Albariño, Pazo Barrantes
- Albariño ‘Leirana’, Forjas del Salnés
Stefan Neumann MS
Austrian born, London based Master Sommelier – I am passionate about wine and a strong believer that wine should connect people. Hence I have made it my mission to share my wine knowledge and experience with like-minded individuals who would like to be part of this journey.
References:
Jancis Robinson, Harding, J. and Vouillamoz, J. (2012). Wine grapes : a complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins, flavours and wines. London: Penguin.
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