Albariño has had a great year. With a solid presence in the Spanish Wine Fair last October; a series of trails, tasting and activities through the summer and a seven-day celebration during the Rias Baixas Week, Irish wine lovers have certainly had many wonderful opportunities to discover and enjoy Rias Baixas Albariño.
Now we have rounded up our favourites, and we have paired them with easy and tasty recipes ideal to include in your Christmas celebrations!
Contrapunto
€12.95 (on offer from €18.45)
Available at O’Briens
An easy going and fruity Albarinho, with a delicate citrus and mineral balance and a light body. Zesty and with a white floral note, it is crisp and mouth-watering, evoking in each sip the Spanish sea side.
Pair it this Christmas: Winter Vegetable Barley Salad Recipe with Crumbled Goats Cheese and Orange by The Honest Project
Paco & Lola
€14.99
Available at SuperValu
The characteristic polka dots bottle introduces one of the region’s largest producers and this is their flagship wine, a vibrant, fresh and lively Albariño that embodies what the style has to offer.
Pair it this Christmas: Seafood Paella Recipe from Las Tapas de Lola
Pazo Barrantes
€17.95 (on offer from €22.95)
Available at O’Briens
Prestigious winemakers Marqués de Murrieta ventured in Rias Baixas and came up with this intense, bright and aromatic Albariño, generous in flavours of citrus, pineapple and orange blossom.
Pair it this Christmas: Gubbeen Chorizo Gratinated Oysters Recipe by Darina Coffey
Condes de Albarei
€14.99
Available at the Celtic Whiskey Shop
A mix between ripe citrus and fresh tropical fruit explodes in the palate sip after sip of this medium bodied and well-structured Albariño, and the subtle presence of white flowers and nectarines help to balance the sharpness and keep it friendly and approachable.
Pair it this Christmas: Clementine Roast Chicken Tray Bake from M&S
Terras Gauda O Rosal
€24.95
Available at The Corkscrew
The vast majority of Rias Baixas wines are 100% Albariño so this blend is a welcome rarity. It’s 70% Albariño, 20% Loureiro and 10% Caiño Blanco. With a full body, rich texture, and flavours of lemon curd and key lime pie, is a very interesting and complex one to try.
Pair it this Christmas: Turkey Stew, Sweet Leek & Smoky Bacon Biscuit Dumplings Recipe by Jamie Oliver
Gabriela’s passion for writing is only matched by her love for food and wine. Journalist, confectioner and sommelier, she fell in love with Ireland years ago and moved from Venezuela to Dublin in 2014.
Since then, she has written about and worked in the local food scene, and she’s determined to discover and share the different traditions, flavours and places that have led Irish food and drink to fascinate her.
Gabriela Guédez Gabriela Guédez