Description
Country : Spain
Grape Variety : Albariño
An aromatic, fruit-filled, dry and refreshing white from the cool Atlantic vineyards of Rias Baixas in North West Spain. A no-brainer with seafood.
Tasting Note : On the nose green fruits abound, with citrus and floral notes. The palate is dry and full-flavoured, with citrus fruits, peaches and a fine seam of minerality.
Food Pairing : Fresh shellfish; grilled or fried white fish; goat’s cheese salad; smoked mackerel pate.
More info : Rias Baixas is located in the extreme North West of Spain, where the cool winds and rain from the Atlantic ensure the grapes retain their freshness and acidity. Albarino is the grape variety here, which produces fresh dry whites that match perfectly with the locally-caught seafood. The grapes are trained on high trellises to give them maximum sun exposure and to protect them from the humidity which can cause mildew. Wines from Rias Baixas have increased in popularity in the past few years, as consumers turn to fresher, zestier styles of white.
Winery : Lagar de Besada started up in the 1980s in the small garage of the family home. The winery was built in 1988, and was one of the first in the area to be dedicated to the production of Albarino. The winery’s grapes are grown in small plots in the Salnes Valley, trained on high trellises, cultivated manually. The juice is cool fermented and rests on its lees for 12 months in tank to allow the natural complexities to develop, and give the wine texture and mouthfeel. Still family-owned, the winery is run by Maria Sineiro and winemaker, David Ballesteros.
