2020 Abacela Albariño
Fault Line Vineyards,
Umpqua Valley,
Southern Oregon,
Oregon
13.3% alcohol
Empty bottle weight: 16.0 ounces // 456 grams
Screwcap closure
1560 cases produced
Albariño (pronounced “al-bar-EEN-yo”) is a mineral-driven, refreshing white wine, perfect for a hot summer day. While a very popular grape in Spain, little is planted in Oregon. Almost all the plantings in the state are found in the Umpqua Valley after pioneering winery Abacela brought it there in 2000. In fact, Abacela has been a champion of Albariño for over 25 years and is considered America’s oldest continuous producer of the varietal!
All estate-grown, these Albariño grapes were harvested in the last days of September and into early October before winemaker Andrew Wenzl fermented and aged the juice in all stainless steel. By doing so, he retained the natural acidity and texture of this unique and uncommon wine varietal. I suggest buying several bottles to enjoy during what is left of summer and into autumn.
Bouquet:
Apricots // white peaches // tart // pink grapefruit // almonds //green apples
Palate:
Kiss of sweetness balanced by acidity // peach skins // apricots // full mouthfeel // honeysuckle flowers // starfruit // honeycomb // long, spicy ginger finish
Food pairing suggestions:
Crab bisque // zucchini, pea and feta spring salad // shrimp enchiladas
Scoop up this wine deal by ordering here:
SRP $21
Be sure to tell us how you like it in the comments!
Don’t miss our other Abacela posts:
Our Why Wine? interview with Earl Jones of Abacela
2015 Abacela Reserve Tempranillo
2015 Abacela South Face Block Reserve Syrah