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Zarate
Vintage: 2012
2012 has, so far been a positive year for wineries around the world. While it may be a little too early to speak of the wines being made in the northern hemisphere, European and North American wineries have already begun reporting that their harvesting season has been generally very good, and are predicting to continue with the kind of successes they saw in 2011. However, 2012 has been something of a late year for France, due to unpredictable weather throughout the summer, and the grapes were ripening considerably later than they did in 2011 (which was, admittedly, an exceptionally early year). French wineries are claiming, though, that this could well turn out to be advantageous, as the slow ripening will allow the resulting wines to express more flavour and features of the terroir they are grown in.
The southern hemisphere has seen ideal climatic conditions in most of the key wine producing countries, and Australia and New Zealand particularly had a superb year, in particular with the Bordeaux varietal grapes that grow there and which love the humidity these countries received plenty of. Also enjoying a fantastic year for weather were wineries across Argentina and Chile, with the Mendoza region claiming that 2012 will be one of their best vintages of the past decade. Similar claims are being made across the Chilean wine regions, where Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon had an especially good year. These two grape varietals also produced characterful wines on the coastal regions of South Africa this year.
Varietal: Albarino
Whilst the pale skinned grapes of the Albarino varietal can now be found in many countries around the world, it has its origins in Spain, where it is still grown in huge numbers today and used to produce excellent quality white wines typical of that part of Europe. Said to be a clone of the French Savagnin grape, Albarino thrives in humid, hot climates and is revered for its light body, high levels of acidity and superb flavors Most commonly, Abarino varietal grapes are famed for their aromatic qualities, and hold notes of bright, soft summer fruits such as apricots and peaches. The wines made from this varietal are pleasantly acidic, light in body and have a tart, sharp bitterness which is excellent alongside many Spanish foods.
Region: Galicia
Galicia, in northern Spain, was once a prosperous and highly popular wine producing region. Despite the strong influence and often bad weather brought by the Atlantic Ocean, the vintners of Galicia knew how to make the most of the grape varietals which thrived in their vineyards, and were renowned for producing excellent, characterful wines full of flavor and beautiful aromatic qualities. However, the economic collapse which occurred in Galicia in the 19th century all but destroyed the region's wine industry and reputation, and it looked as though the region would never recover. Thankfully for lovers of Spanish wines, plenty of money and effort was spent in rebuilding the Galician wine industry over the past few decades, and today, more and more wineries are once again making their distinctive single variety and blended white and red wines, and finding new fans across the globe.
Country: Spain
Ever since the Phoenicians and Romans brought their knowledge of vine cultivation to Spanish soils, the country's culture has grown alongside wine production, with wine being a vital part of Spanish identity and Spanish traditions. Each region of Spain has a wine quite distinct from the others, and it is produced by smallholders and families as much as it is by large companies and established wineries. From the relatively mild and lush regions of La Rioja to the arid plateaus that surround Madrid, grapes are grown in abundance for the now booming Spanish wine industry, and new laws and regulations have recently been put in place to keep the country's standards high. By combining traditional practices with modern technology, Spanish wineries are continuing to produce distinctive wines of great character, flavor and aroma, with the focus shifting in recent decades to quality over quantity.