Good Morning!

It’s starting to get warm and I am in full white wine mode. Not to say, I give up reds in the spring with my winter warerobe, but it we have already seen some 80 degree weather and I like to read on the patio and in the evenings when I break out my Nook or my book of choice, I regularly bust out some chilled white or rose’ wine.

Last summer, I was on a Vinho Verde and or unoaked Chardonnay kick and I told myself, this summer I am going to make myself drink more varieties of whites and rose’. Honestly, most of the wines I drink are leftover from my tastings, after all I am thrifty if I am nothing else. Most of the winemakers I network with, we all send each other samples for feedback and many of my pals make Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc so I get many of those to sample but this season I am making an effort to try more and stretch my knowledge and palate.

A few years ago, my buddy JP served me up a glas of Albarino from Spain and I really enjoyed it and decided last week to pick up a case of the wine, but I made myself buy 12 bottles of the varitial all from different producers. I started doing a little self education and here are some interesting facts about Rias Baixas (REE-ez BUY-shez) this area of Spain is tiny and only makes white wine and they are meant to be drunk young. This wine started to become popular when the invent of stainless steel tanks become popular in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

They grow 3 major white grapes in Rias Baixas:

Albarino, this is the most produced white grape and extremely aromatic and flavorful.

Loureira, this is a not a very popular grape it is sometimes added for aroma.

Treixadura, this is also a minor grape, it is used to blend and it adds body and aroma.

Rias Baixas is a region in Spain and it is located on the Atlanic Ocean and just above Portugal. Many people say they detect a hint aroma of kiwi when they think of Albarino and that might be because kiwi orchards are also planted in the region. The people of this area eat more seafood than any other region in the world. This might be why seafood pairs so nicely with this wine. I was reading about the seafood empanadas from the region and I can not wait to travel there and taste it all for myself.

I find this grape variety to be clean, crisp, so aromatic and really affordable. I love this wine alone, with seafood, and chicken and the match of this wine with veggies or salad works well, if you stay balanced with the vinegar from dressings and marinates. I will keep you posted on which producers I enjoy the most, but I thought I’d share with you what I have learned so far!

Happy Monday!

Much LOVE and wine,

Tammi