Raimat Albarino 2013
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Blend: 100% Albarino
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2022-
James
Suckling
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Wine
Enthusiast
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James
Suckling
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Wilfred
Wong
Raimat is the story of a dream. The dream of a family that put all their effort and passion to turn an inert land into a sea of vineyards.
Where many only saw a desert, Manuel Raventós imagined in 1914 what would later become a lively property of almost 8,000 acres of vineyards.
After the first harvest in 1917 -7 baskets and 1,000 pounds of grapes-, the Raimat winery was built in 1918, being the first concrete building in Spain. This pioneering spirit has remained in the company, with the introduction of grape varieties and cultivation techniques from the United States in the 70’s, and the commitment to organic viticulture during the last 20 years.
The result? Today, Raimat is one of the benchmarks for sustainable viticulture, having one of the largest vineyards in Europe, brimming with life and biodiversity, and a wide range of high quality wines and cavas.
White grapes are used in two famous types of Spanish wine, Sherry and Cava, but we will limit this discussion to still whites. Let’s begin with perhaps the best known and most highly regarded internationally, Albariño . Produced in the region of Rías Baixas, just above Portugal in northwestern Spain, Albariño typically sees no or little oak and is medium to medium-plus in body. Aroma and flavor notes often include citrus and peach, often with subtle floral notes and a suggestion of sea spray, giving the wine a zesty feel. Often bottled as a single varietal, Albariño is sometimes blended with other indigenous grapes like Loureira and Treixadura. Try one of these Spanish whites from Forjas del Salnes.
Let’s look at a few other Spanish white wines. Godello also hails from northwestern Spain and presents a profile of grapefruit, minerality and a slight smoky quality. Enjoy a bottle from Bodegas Avancia. The region of Rueda, northwest of Madrid, is home to Verdejo , which makes refreshing, un-oaked white wines whose herbal vibrancy recalls Sauvignon Blanc . Protos makes a tasty version. Up north in the Basque region, we find the wine called Txakoli (sometimes called Txakolina). Pronounced “sha-ko-LEE,” it’s made from a local grape called Hondurrabi Zuri and is light, fresh, citrusy, dry … and with razor sharp acidity that makes it a fantastic partner with local seafood and tapas. Ameztoi Gertariako is a good Spanish white wine producer to check out.
The Penedѐs region, best known for the oceans of delicious Cava it sends to the world, also produces still Spanish whites, sometimes from international varieties like Chardonnay , and often from the same grapes used for Cava. These include Parellada, Xarel-lo and Macabeo. Avaline produces a fine example of Penedes white. Finally, we visit the Rioja region. While it is historically and internationally famous for its reds, Rioja also produces fine Spanish white wines. These are usually based on Viura (the local name for Macabeo) and make good everyday sippers, although some aged versions can be stunningly complex. A good place to start is the white Rioja from Bodegas Muga.
As you can see, Spanish white wines offer a vast opportunity for exploration!