Sendero das Meigas Albariño 2021
To Master of Wine Jancis Robinson, it's “one of the most exciting and vibrant white wines.” In Spain, they call it Albariño; Alvarinho in Portugal. Whatever you call it, we love its intense aromas and flavors of zingy citrus, perfectly peach and tropical-fruit flavor.
The catch? The only place Albariño fully expresses itself is the northwestern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The most famous examples are from Spain’s storm-lashed Rías Baixas region and northern Portugal.
But those great Albariño conditions—the sea spray, the hard rock surfaces—don’t care about human geography. Just over the border in northern Portugal, Alvarinho grows just as well. The Guardian calls it “the true celebrity in these parts…a wine that blurs borders.”
In fact, it's not just the climate that blurs borders. Long ago, according to the region's winemaking traditions, brave souls would take the Sendero das Meigas (the Witches' path), a secret route used to smuggle grapes betwen the two countries.
Hugely talented Spanish winemaker Juan-Antonio Leza has made the journey from country to country, learning new tricks and techniques from estates on either side of the Mino River (the natural border between Spain and Portugal). He used the perfect combination from both winemaking traditions to make this dazzling, fresh and delicious Spanish Albariño in a seriously crowd-pleasing style. It's no wonder it earned a gold medal from the International Wine & Spirits Competition.
Take the road less traveled and sip this unique, gorgeous wine.
To Master of Wine Jancis Robinson, it's “one of the most exciting and vibr
Jancis Robinson, MW