SPRING IN LIQUID FORM: THURSTQUEEN TALKS EVERYTHING ALBARIÑO, THE AFFORDABLE WHITE FROM SPAIN AND PORTUGAL YOU NEVER KNEW YOU NEEDED

For me, no wine epitomizes Spring more than a nice tall glass of Albariño. This crisp white wine is an intricate aromatic symphony of seashells, grapefruit and flowers and honestly when it comes to seafood? There’s no better option. Periodt.

Consider Albariño to be the ultimate affordable indulgence. This white high acid and salty wine is perfect for Sancerre-lovers who want to save a few bucks.

As a matter of fact, the best damn thing about Albariño is that you can usually find a solid glass of this stuff at any restaurant for pretty darn cheap. So let’s take a quick second to chat about this refreshing AF wine.

WHERE DOES ALBARIÑO GROW?

Albariño does better in coastal climates, and the best versions you’ll find are from Spain and Portugal. When looking for a Spanish Albariño, look for Albariño from the Rías Baixas area in Spain. If you’re setting your sights on Portuguese Alvarinho, you’ll often find it in Vino Verde, where it’s called Alvarinho.

You can also find Albariño in portions of California as well. Definitely pay attention to California Albariño that grows in the coastal regions of Santa Barbara and Monterrey. If you’re looking for a hotter spot that does a great job with Albariño, Lodi Albariño is surprisingly good.

Albariño is very susceptible to rot, and in order to combat this a lot of winemakers in Spain often trellis their grapes on an arbor system to keep the grapes free of humidity and fungus.

Albariño vines in their native habitat

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A SPANISH ALBARIÑO?

For zippy, saline-driven Albariño, you’re going to want to look for Albariño from a little place called the Rías Baixas DO. Rías Baixas sits right against the Atlantic Ocean, and has plenty of cooler influences from its many rivers. The oceanic influence lends these wines a citrus-driven, sea spray minerality. Albariño from Rías Baixas basically screams - PAIR ME WITH SEAFOOD in all caps.

There are five sub zones in Rías Baixas, and you may see them listed on bottles of Albariño when you pick them up in the wild. They are:

1. Val do Salnés

2. O Rosal

3. Condado do Tea

4. Soutomaior

5. Ribera de Ulla

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A PORTUGUESE ALVARINHO?

I’ll admit I’ve seen significantly less Portuguese Alvarinhos in my travels within the continental US in juxtaposition to Spanish Albariño, but if you’re searching for a bottle of Portuguese Alvarinho, there are some differences you should keep in mind.

In Portugal, Alvarinho grows along the River Minho just slightly North of Portugal’s famous Vinho Verde region

Portuguese Alvarinho is going to be lower in alcohol than Spanish Albariño. These wines can sometimes have CO2 added to them for a little bit of effervescence as well - just like Vinho Verde.

If you’re looking a subtype of Portuguese Alvrainho called Nortico Alvarinho, however, you’ll notice that this wine is richer and a lot more serious than the other Portuguese Alvarinhos. Nortico Alvarinho is more similar to the Spanish Alvarinhos, in that it is a still white wine with no carbonation.

Portuguese Alvarinho is perfect for poolside sipping and day drinking because of its lower alcohol content. Consider it a more chill and casual expression of Albariño.

WHAT SHOULD I PAIR MY ALBARIÑO/ALVARINHO WITH?

Whether you’re talking Albariño from Spain or Alvarinho from Portugal, both of these crisp and refreshing wines go great with oysters, fish tacos, and ceviche. Basically, think seafood when pairing this wine. Its light body also makes Albariño a great wine for salads or any green vegetables.

If you’re the type of person who craves a bottle of Sancerre/Savvy B, Muscadet, or acid-driven Riesling, you should definitely consider adding Albariño to your regular rotation.

PICK OF THE WEEK: Albamar Albariño $29.00 @ Stanley’s Wet Goods

There’s a lot of Albariño in this world - and a lot of badly made Albariño at that. When done correctly, this grape is racy, high acid, lemony and thirst quenching. And the folks over at Bodegas Albamar know exactly what’s up when it comes to crafting transparent, stunning, natural Albariño.

The Albamar Albariño tastes like lemony lightning bolt. It’s full of energy and zest. There’s loads of great salinity to this wine as well, and it’s perfect for any and all sea food based dishes. Consider giving this wine a go with fish tacos, popcorn shrimp, and any types of seafood risotto.