Spanish Seaside White Wine

Bright, adventurous, refreshing

Wine: Albariño

Why: The slight salinity of this Spanish white grape pairs perfectly with light white fish. This light-bodied style brings bright acidity with a lot of citrus to match the lemon notes in the dish. This is a circumstance where the wine could easily overpower the fish. The Albariño varietal will bring plenty of interest from your guests but the light body and gentle flavors will play a part in harmony with this subtle and light dish.

What: Almost all Albariño is grown on the Iberian peninsula, with the majority coming from the Rías Baixas region of Northwestern Spain. In neighboring Portugal, the grape is called Alvarinho, and is common in the Vinho Verde region. This sea-side grape is most famous for its salinity, imbued by the cooler coastal climate along the Atlantic. Pay attention to strong citrus notes of lemon, lime, and grapefruit, a sea-breeze saltiness, and juicy fruit like peach and nectarine.

Buying: Look for a bottle from Rías Baixas, where any wine carrying the Rías Baixas Albariño designation on the label is required to be 100 percent Albariño. There are five officially recognized subzones in the Rías Baixas DO, each of which produces a unique style of Albariño. Val do Salnés is the subzone closest to the ocean, where the salt from the sea most heavily influences the wine's briney character

Region: Galicia, Spain

Decanting: None

Alternates: Assyrtiko, Vinho Verde, Gin & Tonic (with extra lime)