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Etxea
Varietal: Albarino
Spain and Portugal were always home to some fantastic quality white wine grape varietals, and amongst the finest is the Albarino. Thought to be a close relative of the French Savagnin grape, the Albarino varietal has been grown in Spain since the 12th century, and has always been revered by Spanish winemakers for its ability to produce white wines of exceptional quality and character. Typically, wines made from the Albarino grape are dry, with a light body and a lovely high level of acidity which cuts through the soft fruit flavors it carries. These grapes produce exceptionally aromatic white wines, and are generally associated with notes of apricot and peach. It often has a slightly bitter quality, as a result of its thick skins and large quantities of pips, but this merely adds to the balance and nature of the wine.
Region: California
Since the 18th century, California has been a hugely important and influential wine region, acting as a trailblazer for other New World wine regions and utilizing an important blend of traditional and contemporary practices, methods and techniques relating to their wine production. Split into four key areas – the North Coast, the Central Coast, the South Coast and the Central Valley – Californian wineries make the most of their ideal climate and rich variety of terrains in order to produce a fascinating range of wines made with a long list of different fine grape varietals. Today, the state has almost half a million acres under vine, and is one of the world's largest wine exporters, with Californian wines being drunk and enjoyed all across the globe.
Country: United States
Whilst there are several strains of native grape varietals in the United States, it was the introduction of the European species which prompted the country to begin producing wines on a large scale. Over the past few centuries, experimentation and cross-breeding has produced great successes in regards to the quality and suitability of the fruit grown in states such as California, Oregon, Washington and New York, and the past few decades have seen New World wines from the United States reach much higher standards. Arguably the finest United States wines have always come out of California, where the climate and terrroir is most suitable for fine wine production. The masterful blending of classic grape varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, amongst others including Syrah and Chardonnay, have had world beating results in recent years, prompting many to suggest that there has never been a better time for buying and drinking United States wines.