WineGuessrWhite grape variety
Albariño
Also called Alvarinho, Cainho Branco
Albariño is a white grape from Galicia in northwest Spain and the Minho in northern Portugal, where it is called Alvarinho. It is known for fresh, aromatic wines with peach, apricot and citrus notes and high acidity. It is the main grape of the Rías Baixas DO, created in 1988.
| Color | White (green-skinned) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Galicia (Spain) and northern Portugal |
| Body | Light to medium |
| Acidity | High |
| Typical aromas | peach, apricot, lemon, grapefruit, white flowers, saline |
| Key regions | Rías Baixas, Galicia (Spain), Ribeiro, Galicia (Spain), Monção e Melgaço, Vinho Verde (Portugal), California (United States), Uruguay |
Origin and history
Albariño is native to Galicia in northwest Spain and the neighbouring Minho area of northern Portugal, where it is called Alvarinho. A popular story says Cluny monks brought it from France in the 12th century, but recent research points instead to a local origin. Both names come from the Latin albus, meaning white. In Galicia, a Denominación Específica Albariño was granted in 1980 and became the Rías Baixas DO in 1988. In Australia, vines sold as Albariño for over a decade turned out to be Savagnin.
Where it grows
Rías Baixas, on the Atlantic coast of Galicia, is its heartland. The DO has five subzones: Val do Salnés, O Rosal, Condado do Tea, Soutomaior and Ribeira do Ulla, and Albariño accounts for the great majority of its vines. The wet, mild climate leads growers to train vines high on pergolas supported by granite posts. Albariño is also used in Ribeiro. In Portugal, its classic home is the Monção e Melgaço subregion of Vinho Verde. Plantings also exist in California, Oregon, Washington, Uruguay and Australia.
Taste, wine styles and food
Albariño makes light to medium-bodied white wine with high acidity and moderate alcohol, typically around 11.5 to 12.5%. The aroma is distinctive, with peach, apricot and citrus and a floral, sometimes salty edge. Most wines are made in stainless steel and drunk young, though some producers use lees aging or oak for more texture, and good examples can age several years. Portuguese Alvarinho from Monção e Melgaço is often a little fuller than generic Vinho Verde. It is the natural partner for Galician seafood: octopus, mussels, scallops, grilled sardines and white fish.
Wines made with Albariño (4)
WineGuessr lists 4 wines made with Albariño, from 2 countries. Most come from Portugal (2).
Albariño: questions and answers
Is Albariño the same as Alvarinho?
Yes. Albariño is the Spanish (Galician) name and Alvarinho is the Portuguese name for the same grape.
What grape is Rías Baixas made from?
White Rías Baixas is made mainly from Albariño, which makes up the large majority of the DO's vines.
Is Albariño sweet or dry?
Albariño is almost always dry, with fresh acidity and fruity peach and citrus aromas.
Is Vinho Verde made from Albariño?
Some is. Alvarinho is the key grape of the Monção e Melgaço subregion, while much other Vinho Verde is made from other local grapes.
Other white grapes
All grape varieties →Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org
Last reviewed October 2026.