Sour Grapes the Irish wine blog. Wine in Ireland.

This week’s WOTW comes from Rias Biaxas in Galicia and the star from last week’s Taste of Dublin with one of the most colourful stands there.

Rias Baixas is the place or DO and finds itself in northwest Spain (Galicia). The grape is Albariño. Just down the road in Portugal it’s known as the not too dissimilar Alvarinho.

Albariño has been vying with Gruner Veltliner, Riesling and perhaps Pinot Grigio to become the great white for disaffected New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc drinkers.

The key factoid about Albariño is that the name is derived from “White from the Rhine”, as clergy or pilgrims on their walk to the Galician capital of Santigo di Compostela (lesser known by its translation, St. James of the field of stars).

Anyhoo, with those facts with which you can now either impress or bore your guests, we’ll move on to Paco and his partner in crime, L-O-L-O-Lola. What kind of mischief are they getting up to in the glass?

Tasting note

Straw yellow to gold colour, very aromatic nose, lots of citrus and green apples with a creamy texture and long herby finish. Perfect foil for scallops or other shellfish.

Pretty impressive and well presented quirky label.

Availability

Wines on the Green (Celtic Whiskey Shop), Louis Albrouze, Leeson Street and other independents at around €15.

Alcohol: 12.5%