Exploring Albariño: A Bright New Sip
With this beautiful weather and summer just around the corner, I’ve been reaching for my classic white wine staples—Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Viognier. After a day of work, there’s nothing better than sitting in the sun with a refreshing glass in hand. This is the season for bright acidity and clean, fresh flavours.
If you’re like me and always itching to try something new, Albariño might be your next go-to. I’ve been meaning to dive into more Spanish wines, and this varietal caught my eye. Albariño (known as Alvarinho in Portugal) is usually dry, light to medium-bodied, with a nice crisp acidity—which is exactly what I lean toward in these warmer months.
A standout bottle I recently tried is:
Reserva Albariño – Bodega Garzón
Although it’s not from Spain or Portugal, this one comes from Uruguay—a region I’m not too familiar with, but I’m really enjoying the adventure of exploring new wine regions. This dry white has just 2 grams of sugar and offers gorgeous notes of stone fruit. It’s super refreshing and definitely worth picking up.
The winery, Bodega Garzón, is located in the Maldonado region. After doing a bit more digging, it turns out they have some excellent quality bottles.
As for the Reserva label: in Spain or Portugal, the term is regulated and usually means the wine has been aged longer or made from higher-quality grapes. In South America, it’s not regulated the same way, but wineries often use it to highlight a premium expression of a wine—possibly with some extra aging or a more selective grape harvest.
I'd pair Albariño with seafood, as I do with other dry whites. If I were hosting friends, I’d grab some shrimp or smoked salmon to go with it. Priced in the $20–$30 range, it’s an approachable yet exciting addition to your white wine rotation.
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