Winemaker Notes
Golden yellow in color, clean and bright. On the nose, it offers high aromatic intensity, revealing a complex array of yellow and winter fruits such as mirabelle plum, persimmon, and loquat, interwoven with citrus notes of lime and yuzu zest. Subtle hints of brioche, fresh butter, and a delicate floral nuance reminiscent of orange blossom accompany the fruit profile On the palate, it is enveloping from the first sip, with a creamy, polished texture thanks to extended lees aging. This richness is balanced by vibrant acidity that brings freshness and a long, persistent finish.
Vegan-Friendly
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The most famous of this estate’s wines, served by the glass at El Bulli for many years, 2024 Albariño Etiqueta Ambar put them on the map back in the 1990s. Coming from sandy granitic soils and released in late summer, the wine sees more active bâtonnage and more lees aging than many of its other wines. Half of the grapes come from the estate, with the other half from families that have grown Albariño in the area for years. It has richness and length in the form of medium-bodied peach and salty brine and should do well in the bottle another 5-7 years.
Bright and aromatic with distinctive floral and fruity characteristics, Albariño has enjoyed a surge in popularity and an increase in plantings over the last couple of decades. Thick skins allow it to withstand the humid conditions of its homeland, Rías Baixas, Spain, free of malady, and produce a weighty but fresh white. Somm Secret—Albariño claims dual citizenship in Spain and Portugal. Under the name Alvarinho, it thrives in Portugal’s northwestern Vinho Verde region, which predictably, borders part of Spain’s Rías Baixas.
Named after the rías, or estuarine inlets, that flow as far as 20 miles inland, Rías Baixas is an Atlantic coastal region with a cool and wet maritime climate. The entire region claims soil based on granite bedrock, but the inlets create five subregions of slightly different growing environments for its prized white grape, Albariño.
Val do Salnés on the west coast is said to be the birthplace of Albariño; it is the coolest and wettest of all of the regions. Having been named as the original subregion, today it has the most area under vine and largest number of wineries.
Ribeira do Ulla in the north and inland along the Ulla River is the newest to be included. It is actually the birthplace of the Padrón pepper!
Soutomaior is the smallest region and is tucked up in the hills at the end of the inlet called Ria de Vigo. Its soils are light and sandy over granite.
O Rosal and Condado do Tea are the farthest south in Rías Baixas and their vineyards actually cover the northern slopes of the Miño River, facing the Vinho Verde region in Portugal on its southern bank.
Albariño gives this region its fame and covers 90% of the area under vine. Caiño blanco, Treixadura and Loureira as well as occasionally Torrontés and Godello are permitted in small amounts in blends with Albariño. Red grapes are not very popular but Mencía, Espadeiro and Caiño Tinto are permitted and grown.