Albariño is the main grape variety grown in the Rías Baixas area of Spain. Rías Baixas is a Spanish Denominación de Origen (DO) for wines that is located in the province of Pontevedra and the southern part of the province of A Coruña in the autonomous community of Galicia in northwest Spain.

 

The area consists of some 7000 acres of vines. There are 6 varieties of red grapes and 6 varieties of white grapes that are authorized although some 90% of the areas production is Albariño. It is believed that the Albariño grape was first introduced here in the 12^th century. With the Rías Baixas DO established in 1988 Albariño has achieved international recognition and in recent years has been gaining in popularity all over the world. Most of the white wines from Rías Baixas are 100% Albariño, although the there are some that contain small amounts of other varieties.

 

Albariños are crisp and fresh with a subtle fruitiness and nice complexity. They are finesseful and balanced and are well suited to a wide variety of lighter foods. The alcohol levels are generally in the area of 12%. Served well chilled they make for delightful warm weather drinking with such things as appetizers, light pastas, vegetables, salads, sashimi, sushi, and oriental food. They are also great as a first course wine in a multi course meal as they have a very high drinkability profile. Albariños have rapidly become one of our favorite light white wines. There have been several notes on Albariños in recent articles (to read the most recent click here).   If you have not yet tried Albariño, do yourself a favor and taste for yourself. The holidays are rapidly approaching and this is a good time to become acquainted with something new. The following list of mostly 2011 Albariños is a good place to start. There are some really delicious wines and many really good values with suggested retail prices ranging from $12 to $29.99 with most under $20. They are easy on your palate and easy on your wallet. So give Albariños a try. I think you will be very pleased.

2011 Laxas Albariño Rías Baixas.
This is a really lovely Albariño with a pale yellow color and a lovely floral and citrus perfume with hints of melon. It is very elegant and balanced with delicate floral, citrus, and melon flavors that are very well integrated and backed by a nice crispness – Outstanding.    $18.00    Imported by Frontier Wine Imports Dover, NJ.  

2011 Lolo Albariño Rías Baixas.
Pale yellow in color this Albariño has a lovely perfume that is faintly floral with hints of spice and melon. It is delicate and finesseful, yet with lovely flavors that show citrus and melon fruit accented by a faint floral undertone. Balanced with a nice crisp finish this is very appealing – Outstanding.    $12.99  Best Buy   Imported by Majestic Imports Santa Rosa, CA.  

2011 Lusco Albariño Rías Baixas.
This wine is pale yellow in color and a nice floral tinged perfume accented by a faint mineral nuance. It is crisp and delicate with floral and citrus notes on the finish – Highly Recommended.      $22.25   Imported by OPICI Wines Glen Rock, NJ. 

2010 Martin Códex Albariño Rías Baixas.
Plae yellow in color this wine has a subtle perfume with floral citrus notes. It has nice delicate flavors with floral, melon, and citrus nuances and a nice crisp finish – Highly Recommended.    $15.00    Imported by Spanish Table Wines Hayward, CA. 

2011 Miudiño Albariño Rías Baixas.
With a pale yellow color this Albariño has a faint floral perfume and is very delicate with floral citrus flavors and a crisp finish – Recommended Plus.    $17.99    Imported by SJL Group Inc. Lionstone International   

 

2011 Paco & Lola Albariño Rías Baixas.
Very light yellow in color this wine has a lovely perfume with floral nuances and hints of melon and citrus. It is balanced, rounded and supple with gorgeous floral, melon, and pineapple tinged flavors and a hint of citrus on the finish – Outstanding.    $20.00    Imported by Majestic Imports Santa Rosa, CA.  

2011 Pazo San Mauro Albariño Rías Baixas.
This is a gorgeous wine with great elegance and balance. It is pale yellow in color and has a lovely floral, melon, and citrus perfume. It is delicate, yet flavorful with hints of citrus, melon, and peach accented by faint floral nuances. The crisp finish gives the wine lift and brightness – Outstanding.    $20.00    Imported by Steve Miles Selections, Inc. Denver, CO.  

2011 Pazo de Señoráns Albariño Rías Baixas.
Pale yellow in color this wine has a nice faintly floral perfume with tinges of citrus. It is elegant, finesseful, and crisp with floral citrus tinged nuances – Highly Recommended.    $24.00    Imported by European Cellars, LLC. Charlotte, NC.  Eric Solomon Selections  

2011 Robaliño Albariño Rías Baixas.
This is an Albariño with a lot of style and finesse. The color is very pale yellow and there is a lovely faintly floral perfume with hints of melon, spice, and citrus with a slight mineral nuance. This is an elegant wine, yet with flavors that are expressive showing floral, citrus, and melon notes. Rounded and very tasty there is also a nice underlying crispness that enhances the overall appeal – Outstanding.    $18.00   Imported by Classic Wines, Inc. Stamford, CT.  

2011 Saleneval Albariño Rías Baixas.
Pale yellow in color this wine has a lovely floral citrus tinged perfume. It is delicate and rounded with a nice floral citrus flavor accented by a touch of citrus on the finish – Highly Recommended.     $12.00    Imported by  C.I.V. USA Sacramento, CA.  

 

2011 Señor de Folla Verde Rías Baixas.
This wine is made with 70% Albariño and 15% each of Treixadura and Loureira grapes. It is very pale yellow in color and has a lovely floral perfume with hints of citrus and pear. The wine has lovely fruit and great finesse, flavor, and style. Floral, citrus, and pear flavors are well defined and accented by a nice underlying crispness – Outstanding.        $29.99   Imported by Republic National Distributing Company, Inc. Deerfield Beach, FL 

2011 Señorio de Rubiós Albariño Rías Baixas.
Very pale yellow in color this Albariño has a lovely floral perfume with citrus and melon nuances. The wine is elegant with great finesse and has lovely well integrated flavors that suggest floral citrus nuances with very faint hints of melon and pear. This is really lovely with a nice crispness on the finish – Outstanding.  $19.99  Imported by Spanish Vines Imports, Inc. Columbia, SC.  

2011 Serra da Estrela Albariño Rías Baixas.
Very pale yellow in color this wine has a very nice floral, citrus tinged perfume. Crisp and fresh with a nice citrus tinge accented by faint floral notes, this Albariño has great finesse – Highly Recommended.   $14.99    Imported by  Kysela Pére et Fils, Ltd. Winchester, VA. 

2011 Terra de Asorei Albariño Rías Baixas.
This wine has a very pale yellow color and a lovely floral perfume with hints of melon. It is elegant with a nice crispness and floral melon nuances – Highly Recommended.   $14.99   Imported by Supreme Wine & Spirits, LLC. Pleasantville, NY.   

2011 Valmiñor Albariño Rías Baixas.
Pale yellow in color this wine has a subtle perfume with hints of citrus. It is very delicate and crisp with citrus and melon nuances and a nice crisp finish – Highly Recommended.    $18.99    Imported by Kysela Pére et Fils, Ltd. Winchester, VA.