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I just learned that August 1 is World Albariño Day. I'll drink to that!
International Albariño Day, celebrated annually on August 1, was born out of a contest between two men — Bernardo Quintanilla and Ernesto Zàrate — to determine the best wine of 1952. The following year the Albariño Day celebration was established.
The ‘Albariño’ grape is grown in several countries, but Spain is the largest producer, followed by Portugal where it is called ‘Alvarinho’. A good Albariño will dance with intriguing aromatic flavour. It has zesty acidity and notes of white fruit (pears, apples, and peaches), lemon/citrus, and sometimes almonds. It pairs extraordinarily well with seafood, the main staple of these coastal regions.
International Albariño Day takes place on the last day of the Fiesta del Albariño, in Cambados, Spain. I don't know how we missed that when we spent three summers in Spain on our boat, sailing the Rias Baixas. We did visit Cambados, and we were always encountering fiestas and drinking plenty of Albariño, but never got wind of a Fiesta celebrating Albariño. What a shame, it would have been great craic.
Albariño is a variety of grape grown mainly in Galicia, an autonomous province in NW Spain. In Portugal, it grows mainly in Melgaco and Monaco. Varietal white wines are made from the grape, which belongs to the Vitis vinifera species. Interestingly, Albariño is also grown in California, Oregon and Washington State. I also found Albariño wine being made in New Zealand by Cooper's Creek Vinyard, Chateau Garage, and others. And now, Albariño is also being grown in Ireland!
Contrary to the popular theory that Albariño grapes were brought to Spain by French monks from Cluny in France, research suggests the existence of these grapes in Spain for centuries. Moreover, no evidence of Albariño, even going by a different name, has been found in Cluny.
In other cities, such as Lima, Braga, Valdeorras, and Ribeiro, Albariño is mixed with other grapes like Loureiro, Godelho, Cainho, and Arinto to produce blended wines. Wine fermented from Albariño grapes is refreshingly light, with an alcohol level of about 11.5% to 12.5%. Furthermore, the grape itself is known for its distinctive botanical aroma with a citrus undertone. It also has thick skins and numerous pips, which may cause residual bitterness.
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