Denomination of Origin (DO) Rías Baixas is renowned as the birthplace of 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 established in 1988. Travelers have long found their way to the area, drawn to its rich culture, innovative gastronomy, and a timeless passage along the Camino de Santiago – the Way of Saint James – a pilgrimage which ends in Santiago de Compostela. Today, they are as likely to find their way to the stunning vineyards of the area. Planted along the inlets of the Atlantic coast, Rías Baixas shares the same mineral-rich soils and cool climate as other celebrated white wine regions, including the Loire Valley, Marlborough, and the Rhine. It is the purest expression of Albariño, the flagship of the region.
Stateside, Rías Baixas Albariño appeals to sommeliers and wine industry influencers with its distinctive, food-friendly profile. The many voices of Albariño include Yannick Benjamin, head sommelier at New York City’s University Club and co-founder of Wheeling Forward: “Rías Baixas Albariño is undoubtedly my go-to grape when I desire something fresh and crisp. The first thing that comes to mind when discussing Rías Baixas Albariño is its versatility and ability to pair with an assortment of dishes,” he explains. “It has incredible texture and the mouth-feel will remind you of freshly shucked oysters and an explosion of fresh cut white flowers and stone fruits.”
Join us for our Discovery Session on Saturday, November 11 from 2:25 to 3:25, led by Lyn Farmer – a James Beard Award-winning wine and food writer, educator – who will guide us on a tasting experience through the various styles of the region, including the different sub zones and winemaking techniques. “Albariño is an ancient grape that is new again, and it has never been more exciting,” enthuses Lyn. “In its home region of Rías Baixas, Albariño is a supermodel among grapes, allowing brilliant winemakers to dress it in a variety of styles without ever losing its intrinsic personality. At the Wine Bloggers Conference, I’m thrilled to offer guests a fashion show with the dazzling and (partly) new star of Spanish white wine.”
Both Yannick and Lyn, as well as advanced sommelier Jill Zimorski, will be featured in an upcoming video series “Voices of Albariño,” sponsored by DO Rías Baixas. DO Rías Baixas has also recently launched a new Chef series, including original recipes by New York City-based Chef Shoshana Quint. These dishes seamlessly pair innovative, fresh ingredients with a range of Albariño wines from Rías Baixas. Albariño is Chef Shoshana’s “white wine for all seasons,” she shares, “as its versatility pairs to perfection with a variety of dishes and flavors from around the globe.” Visit www.riasbaixaswines.com for recipe details and more.