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.
