Episode 173: The Great August Albariño Grape Gab

Roll out those crazy Albariño days of Summer! In this episode we are Grape Gabbing about Albariño. Also we announce our July Patron drawing at the end of the show. [sponsored content]

In the Glasses: (1:12)

Steph: 2016 Castro Martin ‘sobre lias’ Albariño, Salnés Valley, Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain. ‘Sobre Lias’ translates to “lees aging” – and in this vintage the wine spent 5-6 months on the lees. Incredible wine for $20-21.

Val:

2016 Valdamor Namorío Albariño, Salnés Valley, Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain ($18)

Albariño in August, Babyee (4:47)

We are releasing this episode smack in the middle of the seventh annual celebration of “International Albariño Days” established by the Tempranillo Advocate Producers and Amigos Society (TAPAS).

International Albariño Days coincide with the Festa do Albariño. TAPAS, established in 2006, is focused on North American producers of wines made with native Spanish varieties (http://www.tapasociety.org/).

Festa do Albariño’s origins date back to the 1950s when it was originally a winemaker competition. In 1977, on the 25th anniversary of the fiesta, the event was converted to a more tourist-centric event. Then in 1988 the Consejo Regulador de la D.O. Rías Baixas was created … and got involved. (http://www.riasbaixaswines.com/about-rias-baixas//, http://fiestadelalbariño.com/).

What is this Albariño of which you gab? (7:02)

The Albariño grape is a white grape and makes up about 96% of the vines planted in Spain’s Rías Baixas DO in northwestern Spain, specifically the Galicia region. This part of Spain is known as “Green Spain,” although there are five subzones of Rías Baixas that offer different expressions of Albariño wines. The Val do Salnés is believed to be the birthplace of Albariño.

In Portugal’s into the Minho and Vinho Verde regions it’s called Alvarinho. Some believe that that Minho is Albariño’s place of origin.

Everyone wants a piece of wine grape origins, yes?

How does your Albariño grow? (8:37)

Here’s the down low on the up high, yo.

Albariño is a late-ripening, thick-skinned grape. In the maritime or humid climates, the tight bunches are subject to mildew, but the thick skins do help to fend off disease.

However, damp conditions traditionally required the vines to be trained on six-foot high parras. This not only keeps the grapes out of reach of predators, but also allows the breezes to circulate through the vines and bunches. Now more modern wire-trained methods are used.

Albariño/Alvarinho achievements and aliases (10:00)

Albariño/Alvarinho were among the first varietes to be bottled and labeled as single varietal wines in both Spain and Portugal.

Other names? Albelleiro, Galego, Alvarin Blanco (not to be confused with Abarin Blanco, which is Blanco Pais), and Paderna.

Albariño elsewhere (11:12)

Albariño grows in the US on the west coast from Washington down to California.

In the southern hemisphere look for Albariño in Uruguay, New Zealand and Australia. A little note on the Austraila Albariño:

You may have heard about a kerfuffle regarding Savagnin or Savagnin Blanc (also known as Traminer, and not Gewurztraminer, as you may remember from Episode 159). It was being mistaken for Albariño vines a few decades back. Vinodiversity addresses this controversy under an article called “The Big Boo Boo,” but also lists some true Albariño producers under their “Albariño in Australia” piece. (https://www.vinodiversity.com/albarino.html)

Surely don’t rule out other regions, like the US east coast, New York, Virginia as well as other countries around the world.

In the glass (13:23)

Wines made from the Albariño grape are known for pronounced aromas of juicy, ripe summer stone fruits like nectarines and peaches, as well as tropical mango or pineapple. Citrus and zest can dominate some expressions, as can floral aromas of honeysuckle, jasmine and orange blossom on the nose.

But the signature fresh acidity is what stands out and makes it such a great summer wine and seafood or salad pairing!

Many tasters will detect a homage to Albariño’s coastal origins on the palate, such as “a hint of salinity or the smell and taste of salty sea air” (http://www.sommelierqa.com/white-wine/what-does-albarino-taste-like/).

Resources & Learn More!

This two-minute video from Karen MacNeil

The Wine Clip: Know Albariño – 6 Key Facts

Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible and editor of WineSpeed, tells you about the grape variety albariño in six fun and fast facts.

Books

Clarke, O. & Rand, M. (2010). Grapes and wines: A Comprehensive guide to varieties and flavours. New York: Sterling.

Robinson, J., Harding, J., & Vouillamoz, J. (2012). Wine grapes: A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours [Kindle Edition]. New York: Ecco.

Websites

Fiesta do Albarino: http://fiestadelalbariño.com/

Wines of Portugal: http://www.winesofportugal.info/pagina.php?codNode=1089

Rías Baixas Wines: http://www.riasbaixaswines.com/all_about_albarino/

Vinodiversity (Darby Higgs) https://www.vinodiversity.com/albarino.html

Sommelier Q&A: http://www.sommelierqa.com/white-wine/what-does-albarino-taste-like/

Foundation Plant Services https://fps.ucdavis.edu/fgrdetails.cfm?varietyid=170#8470

TAPAS: http://www.tapasociety.org/AlbarinoFiesta

Shoutouts (18:42)

Today’s samples were provided by Gregory + Vine PR to celebrate International Albariño Days the first week in August of 2018. Be sure to use the #MakeItAnAlbariñoWeekend and #AlbariñoFiesta on August 4th to share your wines.

So cheers to International Albariño Days – they don’t get just one day, they get days, plural.

A Word from our Sponsor & Partner in Wine: Weekly Tasting! (19:16)

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