Alvarinho - The Iberian Riesling

Profiles

Alvarinho is a crisp, aromatic white wine with a light mousse. Its flavours are dominated by peach, citrus fruit and white flowers. Because of its distinctive, fruity acidity, Alvarinho is often referred to as the Riesling of the Iberian Peninsula. Due to the thick skin, there is always some tannin present, which gives the white wine an oily texture and a phenolic finish.

Flavours

The melon and grapefruit flavours of Alvarinho come from chemical compounds called thiols. They are usually found in lighter white wines from cooler regions. In cooler growing regions, the lemon and grapefruit flavours dominate in Alvarinho wines; in warmer climates, the peach and melon notes are more prominent. Overall, Alvarinho wines are fruity, racy and savoury.

Dominant notes:

• Lemon
• Grapefruit
• Nectarine
• Melon
• Wet gravel

Possible notes:

• Herbs/flowers: lily, citrus blossom
• Citrus: lime peel, lemon, lemon peel, grapefruit pulp, grapefruit, orange peel, tangerine
• Tree fruit/melon: peach, nectarine, apple, honeydew melon
• Tropical fruit: papaya
• Earth/Other: saline, quinine, ground gravel, minerals, beeswax

Harmonises with

Alvarinho is always served ice cold and goes particularly well with Thai, Moroccan and Indian cuisine. However, thanks to its aromas and fresh acidity, Alvarinho also harmonises with many other dishes: Whether with fresh oysters or French-style seafood, rich, creamy and buttery sauces, potatoes au gratin or macaroni and cheese, spicy or acidic dishes such as chicken in white wine sauce, lemon chicken or French duck l'orange.

A slightly aged Alvarinho goes well with cheeses of all kinds, especially goat's cheese. And last but not least: its effervescence and lively flavours also make Alvarinho wines ideal as an aperitif.

General information

Alvarinho is a white wine variety that is considered the queen of the Vinho Verde wine-growing region in Portugal. Alvarinho translates as "the little white one from the Rhine", which is why it was long assumed that the grape variety is related to Riesling. According to more recent findings, Alvarinho is more likely a relative of the Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc and Petit Manseng grape varieties. A relationship to the Portuguese grape variety Malvasia Fina is also conceivable.

Depending on the origin and region, the spelling changes for the grape variety, which, according to legend, was brought to Galicia by monks from Germany or France via the Way of St James between the 11th and 13th centuries. In the Spanish wine-growing region of Rías Baixas, the grape variety is known as Albarinho, while in Portugal it is called Alvarinho.

The Alvarinho grape is mainly cultivated in Portugal, Spain and the USA, covering a total area of around 7700 hectares. In the Portuguese Minho region, Alvarinho is one of the most important white wine grapes. However, the Spanish Val do Salnés in the Rias Baixas region is considered the true home of the Alvarinho. 90 per cent of the vineyards there are reserved for the Alvarinho grape.

Alvarinho loves a cool climate and dry, stony slate and granite soils. Thanks to its thick berry skin, it defies the humid and harsh Atlantic climate. Due to the high humidity in its growing regions in north-west Spain and the underlying wine-growing regions of Portugal, such as Minho and Vinho Verde, the Alvarinho grape is grown exclusively on pergolas.

The grape variety, which grows in Portugal mainly along the Minho River and the sub-regions of Monção and Melgaço in the Vinho Verde region, is vinified as a single variety. The wines from this region can be stronger and have a higher alcohol content.

Alvarinho wines taste delicious when young, but only develop their unique flavour when aged for more than ten years.