Best Albariño wines under £20: Ten to try
The Albariño variety produces refreshing, dry whites which are ideal for drinking during the summer and can provide a great alternative for any Pinot Grigio lovers. Here are 10 great value recommendations you can pick up for under £20...
Planted in its heartland of Galicia, and particularly Rías Baixas, on Spain’s fresh north-western Atlantic coast, Albariño is an aromatic white grape variety that makes fresh, breezy wines.
In Portugal it’s known as Alvarinho and is used to make Vinho Verde wines, which have more citrus and green apple character than their peachy Spanish cousins.
‘For a long time, it was thought that Albariño was related to Savagnin from Jura, but DNA analysis proved this also incorrect,’ wrote Pedro Ballesteros Torres, about the origins of the variety.
However, good value Albariño wines can now be found all over the winemaking world, in locations as unexpected as Uruguay, New Zealand and the United States.
Ranging from light and minerally to fuller-bodied with intense stone fruit character, they all share a high level of acidity which makes them perfect wines to drink in the summer months.
Try one of the Albariños below with light summer dishes and salads.
Albariños also make a particularly good pairing with fish and seafood, from sea bream and hake to squid and sardines, as well as fruits de mer platters.
Look out for our Albariño vs Alvarinho panel tasting in the September issue of Decanter, on sale early August.
Best Albariño wines under £20: Ten to try
The following wines have been tasted by a range of Decanter experts.
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Mar de Frades, Albariño, Val do Salnés, Rías Baixas, Spain, 2018
Made from grapes grown on pergolas in granite soils just 1km from the Atlantic coast, this flagship Albariño from Mar de Frades is a breath...
2018
Mar de Frades
Pazos de Lusco, Lusco, Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain, 2019
Youthful energy on the nose with honeysuckle, pink grapefruit, lime curd and nectarine. Supple on the palate with balanced freshness.
2019
Pazos de LuscoRías Baixas
Granbazán, Etiqueta Ambar Albariño, Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain, 2019
Smoky mezcal and lime on nose. The palate is very elegant with fresh acidity and attractive salinity. A mineral, textural wine.
2019
GranbazánRías Baixas
Paco & Lola, Albariño, Galicia, Spain, 2020
91
The previous vintage of this won Platinum at last year's Decanter World Wine Awards. Paco & Lola was created in 2005 as a union of small growers (more than 440), who together own more than 2,200 vineyards. Only the free-run must was used in this exuberant white. There's a lovely weight of juicy stone fruit, with zesty lime citrus notes. It's a rounded wine, bursting with ripe fruit, but fresh too, with balancing acidity. This is very good value and would be a great match for a fish dish with some spice.
2020
Paco & Lola
Bodega Garzón, Reserve Albariño, Maldonado, Uruguay, 2018
Ripe, full and rich on the nose, with plenty of stone fruit flavours. Fruity and vivid, yet creamy and profound.
2018
Bodega Garzón
Tesco, Finest Viñas del Rey Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain, 2020
90
Looking for a bright and breezy white to pair with fish or seafood? You won't be disappointed with this vibrant Albariño, made for Tesco by leading producer in the region, Viñas del Rey. The vineyards are exposed to cooling Atlantic breezes, ensuring good acidity and a fresh elegance. There's almost a saline tanginess to this too, and a light to medium body. Lots of juicy, almost honeyed peach fruit here, with some grapefruit citrus and lemon peel zestiness. A great introduction to the style.
2020
Tesco
Morgan, Albariño, Monterey County, California, USA, 2018
90
Crisp, clean and ultra-refreshing, this is a great example of American Albariño. Medium-bodied, floral and fruity with bright citrus flavours and steely minerality.
2018
MorganMonterey County
Asda, Extra Special Albarino, Rías Baixas, Spain, 2019
90
Rías Baixas is known for its breezy, coastal style of Albarino. This has soft orchard fruit aromas and subtle lemon and orange notes. In the mouth there's a bitter grapefruity core, fleshed out with apple, lemon, pear and peach flavours and speckles of salinity. A good food wine.
2019
Asda
Terra de Asorei, Nai e Señora Albariño, Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain, 2019
89
Nai e Señora means Mother and Lady in Galician. This Albariño has white blossom, citrus and pear on the nose with a touch of newly cut grass. Ripe yellow apple and crisp acidity on the palate; a warming mouthfeel, followed by a spiced finish.
2019
Terra de AsoreiRías Baixas
Fefiñanes, Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain, 2020
89
At the pricier end of the Albariño scale, this comes from Rías Baixas' most historic producer of the grape variety, established in 1904. Quite a broad style, rounded in the mouth, with soft, peachy fruit, and a refreshing seam of mouthwatering acidity. There's also an underlying note of preserved lemons – combining zesty citrus character with a hint of salinity. A lovely match for seafood. Would like to see it under screwcap.
2020
Fefiñanes
