Grape variety
Albariño / Alvarinho

Alvarinho, Albariño in Spanish, comes from the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula, where it grows on both sides of the River Minho - in Portugal's Vinho Verde region and in Spain's Galicia, particularly in the Rías Baixas DOP. Although it was first described in 1843, it is considered an ancient variety. Vines up to 300 years old discovered in the region indicate that it was cultivated long before it was mentioned in writing. The name of the variety means something like "the white one from the Rhine" and it was long thought that it had once travelled to Galicia with monks on the Way of St James and was related to Riesling. Especially as it is indeed similarly versatile. However, it is now clear that it originates from the region and is related to the Loureiro, which is also native to the region. With around 2,000 hectares in Portugal and around 3,500 hectares in Spain, Alvarinho remains regionally concentrated, but has made a name for itself internationally.
The vine ripens early, is susceptible to mildew, but is surprisingly resistant to drought - a valuable characteristic in a climate characterised by the Atlantic with hot summers and lots of rain. Wines of bright freshness and aromatic intensity are typical. Lime blossom, orange, ripe peach and fine herbal notes combine with lively acidity and salty minerality. Alvarinho shows that fullness and freshness do not have to be mutually exclusive: Despite considerable alcohol levels, the wines remain balanced and elegant. As a young wine, Alvarinho impresses with its aroma and clarity, but when matured in wood it gains depth and structure. Its versatility makes it one of the most exciting white wines in the Atlantic region.