Albariño
Also known as Alvarinho
Galicia, Spain
A thick-skinned, high-acid, saline white from Galicia's Atlantic coast and the north of Portugal, where it is called Alvarinho.
Sensory profile
Characteristics
Flavor & aroma
At a glance
Production facts
Prevalence
Niche
Climate
Cool climate
Ripening
Mid season
Wine styles
Still
Where it's grown
Geography
Shaded areas are the state, province or département(s) containing each region, so they run wider than the appellations themselves.
Spain
Ribeiro (Galicia)
A blending partner for Treixadura in the inland valleys, where it is one of the region's permitted white grapes.
Portugal
Monção and Melgaço (Alvarinho)
The northern Vinho Verde, where it is the finest white grape.
Uruguay
Background
Origin & History
Albariño is the flagship of Rías Baixas in Galicia, where it grows on granite soils in a cool, humid Atlantic climate and is often trained high on pergolas to keep the bunches ventilated. Its thick skins help it resist the damp, and it gives peachy, citrusy, slightly salty wines that go well with seafood.
Across the Miño river in Portugal it is Alvarinho, and is the best grape of Monção and Melgaço, in the north of Vinho Verde.
Lineage
Family tree
Parentage not recorded — Albariño is an old variety of unknown origin.
No crossings involving Albariño are documented in the collection yet.