Albarino

At wine shows I am often asked, by winemakers as well as by would-be consumers, about where it is being planted and when some Australian Albarino wines will be available. This is a late ripening white wine variety whose home is the Rias Baixas and Galician wine regions of North West Spain and Portugal. These areas, under the influence of the nearby Atlantic Ocean, are cooler and wetter than the rest of Spain. In Portugal the variety is known as 'Alvarinho'

Some commentators believe Albarino is the same variety as Petit manseng which is widely grown in South-west France on the other side of the Pyrenees.

In the north west of the Iberian Peninsula this variety produces light bodied wines with high acidity. The Portuguese Vinho Verde's made from this variety are often very light in body and alcohol, say 8.5%, reflecting the common practice of overcropping on pergola trellises in a warm, humid climate.

Albarino wines are very aromatic, redolent of peaches and apricots and can display a complex array of flavours, similar to Viognier but with much less weight.

It is no surprise to those who have tried these wines that this is now the most fashionable Spanish varietal white wine.

This variety has enormous potential in Australia which has yet to be explored, but I think it needs to be given more extensive trials in cooler regions, say the Mornington Peninsula, King Valley or the northern slopes of the Macedon Ranges Region.

The 2006 Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show awarded a Bronze Medal to Tscharke Wines 2006 Albarino. Judges comments were Yellow straw, grassy lanolin nose. Tight acid with a long lemony palate. In 2007, the next vintage also picked up a bronze medal.

What should you eat with Albarino wine?

Spanish style seafood dishes or tapas are the the obvios choices for food pairing with Albarino varietal wines. However it is a very versatile variety and can be used in a similar way to Riesling with all manner of seafood dishes, especially those with garlic. Paella, pastas and risottos will be enjoyed with these wine as well.

See this Grilled octopus recipe for a great dish to accompany albarino

Wineries using Albarino grapes to make wine in Australia include:

Albarino is one of 184 varieties listed on the Wine Variety Table

See what reader Dan Traucki says about Irvines 2007 Albarino in his comments Awsome albarino You can add your comments to Dan's article, or write something yourself.