Denomination of Origin (DO) Rías Baixas is renowned for the Albariño grape, an indigenous variety that produces some of the world’s foremost white wines. Located in the Galicia region of northwestern Spain, the DO was formally established in 1988. Albariño has always been the flagship of this coastal region. In Rías Baixas’ unique climate, Albariño shares the same mineral-rich soils and cool climate as the world’s other renowned white wine-producing regions, including France’s Loire Valley, New Zealand, and the Rhine region of Germany.
Val do Salnés is rightly called the birthplace of Albariño. Surrounding the historic town of Cambados, Val do Salnés has the densest concentration of vineyards and wineries with a coastal location providing wet, chilly growing conditions. The result: Albariño with electric acidity. Granitic, rocky soils and ocean breezes lend a salty mineral character to the wine’s melon and citrus flavors. Many stunning examples of the wine can be found in the U.S., notably from Do Ferreiro.
Interesting Facts About Rias Baixas
In ancient times, men of the Galician region were often at sea, and women were left to run the family businesses. These days, this tradition is still alive and most of the wineries in this region are managed by women.Galicia is often called “Green Spain” and it has preserved many ancient Celtic traditions. One of the many Celtic traditions is a language that has more than 100 different words to describe rain.
Seafood’s Soulmate: Rías Baixas Albariño
When it comes to choosing wine to go with seafood, Spanish Albariño is always a worthy contender. This white grape variety is native to Galicia, in the far northwest of Spain surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Cantabrian Sea. The grape’s best-known wines come from the Rías Baixas D.O. where 90% of the vineyards are planted with Albariño, producing wonderfully crisp, fragrant, and mineral-driven white wines, a match made in heaven with the local seafood.
Today, Albariño is a favorite of American chefs and can be found in all types of restaurants, not only Spanish, often served by the glass owing to the wine’s great price-to-value ratio.
Tasting the Fefinanes Albarino 2021
The Palace of Fefiñanes has been inextricably linked with wine since the 17th century, and it was in the early 20th century that the winery was established as a commercial company. Albariño de Fefiñanes is our flagship wine. In line with the century-old winemaking tradition at Fefiñanes Manor House, jeweler, master craftsman in jet and designer Enrique Mayer based in Santiago de Compostela, designed the label back in 1928. A year later, in 1929, our wine won an award at the 1929-30 edition of the Barcelona International Trade Fair . A truly pioneering wine. Fefinanes Albarino 2021, offers A bright, straw-yellow color with intense aromas of fresh fruit. Notes of citrus fruit and aromatic herbs come through with an elegant varietal character. Dry with lively acidity, which enhances its fruit expression, and with length and intensity of flavor. Characteristic Albariño vibrancy.
