The past couple of weeks in San Diego have been scorching and uncorking a bottle of white wine just seems the right thing to do. So, that’s what I did (and am continuing to do). Spain’s premier whites come from the D. O. Rias Baixas on the northeastern coast of Spain (just above Portugal). The primary grape of this D. O. is Albariño and accounts for 90% of all plantings in the area. The grape is small, green, and thick-skinned making it ideal for resisting fungal diseases in the extremely damp climate in which it grows. Because of the close proximity to the Atlantic the area sees approximately 59 inches of rain a year.
Wines made from Albariño tend to be very aromatic with aromas of apples, peaches, citrus, flowers, and grass. They are well-suited for seafood dishes due to their acidity. These wines should be consumed while they are young as the longer they stay in the bottle the more the aromas fade.
Over the last three years the vintages of Rias Baixas have been rated “Excellent”. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a bottle of a 2008 Rias Baixas (thanks, Michael!), and I can tell you that it is just as good. I recently opened a bottle of 2008 Pazo de Galegos. At first sniff I knew I was in for a treat. Aromas of citrus, kiwi, and fresh straw were followed by flavors of kiwi, apricots, and citrus. I paired this with an appetizer of roasted peppers. The acidity of the wine worked superbly with the peppers. At 13% alcohol you don’t feel as guilty having “just one more glass.” Happy Drinking!
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