Rías Baixas (ree-ahs buy-shuss)
Albariño (al-baa-ree-nyo).

Rías Baixas is a region in Galicia, located in northwest Spain. It is a gorgeous, lush and green area along the Atlantic seacoast, directly above Portugal. Rías Baixas is also the name of the most important wine Denomination of Origin (DO) in Galicia. The word ‘Rías’ means estuaries and Rías Baixas means lower estuaries.

Albariño is a white grape variety. It is the signature grape variety from the region of Rías Baixas. Just like you might say Cabernet Sauvignon is the signature variety from Napa Valley.

First of all, there is no absolute right or wrong food and wine pairing, so enjoy the wine with whatever food you like. There is, however, one simple guideline: match the wine to the texture (or weight) of the food. These food-friendly wines with their intense fruit character, lively acidity, moderate alcohol and mineral overtones pair with a wide variety of foods, from their classic pairing with seafood to Asian fare or even salsa and chips. Enjoy them on their own as an apéritif, with tapas or “little plates,” or with full-course meals of veal, chicken, ham, medium-bodied cheeses, and an array of vegetable dishes.

This wine is traditionally made to drink young, upon release. The ideal time to enjoy it is now and often. That being said, some wineries are experimenting with aging their Albariño wines in either oak or stainless steel, producing wines that can be enjoyed for up to two or three years.

Rías Baixas is the birthplace of Albariño, producing its signature style to the highest quality standards. On each bottle of wine from the region of Rías Baixas, you can find a quality control sticker guaranteeing the quality and authenticity of the wine. Albariño is also grown extensively in neighboring Portugal, where it produces a lighter style of wine. In warmer regions it produces a riper wine with lower natural acidity.

Indeed, Spain has many famous red wine regions. However, it is in this cool, maritime region of Rías Baixas that white grapes excel, producing the finest white wines of Spain. Even if you are a dedicated red wine drinker, these wines will convert you, with their distinctive structure, rich aromatics, fruit intensity and long, dry, crisp finish.

While some red varieties are grown, almost 99% of the wines produced are white. Most red wines produced are un-aged, young wines, and consume locally.

With one grape variety, are the wines not all more or less the same?

Don’t let the fact that all these wines, produced from the same Albariño grape, fool you into thinking that they all taste alike. Each producer has its own unique style, based on its winemaking philosophy, experience, sub-zone location, soil and micro-climate. This is why tasting many different wines from the region is an interesting and fun experience.

Albariño wines have a roundness and great level of acidity, which allows them to pair beautifully with a wide range of cuisines. While they are exceptional with fresh fish and seafood of all kinds, they are also delicious with chicken, pork and veal dishes as well as a variety of cheeses. Albariño from Rías Baixas is an ideal accompaniment to many types of Asian food, including Indian, Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese.

These wines are very affordable and range from $10–$22 dollars a bottle in the United States.

It is a crisp and refreshing, like biting into a ripe, juicy apple. It has beautiful acidity that wakes up your palate. This is an aromatic and concentrated fruity wine. On the nose, it is reminiscent of white peaches, apricot, citrus fruits and jasmine. On the palate it is dry, lively, with intense fruity character and mineral overtones. The wine has even been referred to as a cross between Riesling and Heaven.

This wine has the PMM quotient: “Pour me more.” Albariño wines from Rías Baixas are fresh, lively with excellent structure and fruit concentration. They are an interesting and distinctive alternative to many of the more ubiquitous white wines available on the market.

Savvy restaurants have Albariño Rías Baixas on their wine lists. It is readily available in this area and if your local wine shop isn’t already carrying it, ask your retailer to order it for you. Also, many of the importers of this wine can be found here at Great Match as well and are an excellent resource.

Why am I hearing so much about Spanish wines recently?

Spain’s current popularity as the culinary hub of innovative gastronomy has opened the door for the proliferation of Spanish wines. The Spanish culture itself is extremely popular now and is being heavily marketed to a ready and receptive audience. One of the biggest draws of the Rías Baixas Albariños is that they represent great quality at an affordable price and offer an exciting alternative to the consumer bored with traditional white wine choices. In fact, Food Arts, a leading trade publication, recently referred to Rías Baixas Albariño as the ‘Wine darling of the year.’

There are several websites that can give you more information:
· Wines From Spain website (www.winesfromspainusa.com)
· DO Rias Baixas website (www.doriasbaixas.com)
· Tourism office of Galicia website (www.turgalicia.es)

While warm weather certainly calls for cool, white wines, many of these Albariños from Rías Baixas have the structure, weight and fruit intensity to be enjoyed year-round.

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