For Albarino in the City, head to Humble Grape
Not satisfied with one isolated national grape day, Albarino (or Alvarinho in Portugal) is about to kick off a week’s worth of celebrations from 1 August.
This annual event began in the 1950s in Spain as a wine-tasting competition between local winemakers and was later made official, spreading internationally to highlight what makes this grape unique and important.
Rias Baixas is seen as Albarino’s heartland, where it flourishes in the cool, wet Atlantic climate with its sea breezes coming in from the coast creating vibrant, fresh, aromatic wines. I remember when I first discovered Albarino: I was at the Dorset seaside looking for a bottle to pair with my fish and chips. Its tongue-tingling taste of sea spray married with ripe peaches and bright citrus was a revelation.
The refreshing salinity makes this an excellent choice for seafood. When visiting Rias Baixas I drank it with juicy razor clams on the beach and learned it was a fit for everything from meaty grilled Octopus to the zestiness of ceviche.
One of the best and most enjoyable examples is the Mar de Frades (£17.75, Tesco) in its distinctive blue bottle. It looks beautiful and has a ‘smart’ label, where a small blue boat appears when the wine is chilled to the right temperature and disappears if the wine gets too warm. Moving away from salty peaches is the richer, more mineral La Val (£18, Waitrose), which is better suited to dishes like lemon-roasted chicken or a creamy Spanish paella.
Why Albarino is such a popular style
This wine has proven so popular it has been embraced by different countries across the world. New Zealand is flying the flag for the New World style, not surprising given its success with the zesty, aromatic Sauvignon Blanc.
The Leftfield Albarino (£13.50, Tesco) from Gisborne on the country’s East Coast leans into the wine’s delicate perfume with honeydew melon, lemon zest and peach skin. A good match for the local speciality of green-lipped mussels as well as grilled prawns, fish tacos and hard cheeses.
Toast the City award-winner Humble Grape is the place to go to try some: “Being named Best Bar in London at last year’s awards still gets us buzzing at Humble Grape Fleet Street, where we pour wine to a City crowd that knows exactly what it wants after 6pm,” says CEO James Dawson.
“Albarino’s had a big summer with us and our Spanish and Portuguese bottles have been very popular. I’d recommend the Joyce Albariño from Monterey County, California: sea spray, white pineapple, oyster shell… proof the grape travels well, even if it’s not from the Iberian coast.”