This is what good wine from the Alvarinho grape tastes like

The Alvarinho grape is usually harvested early. It then gives light, refreshing white wines with a taste of freshly squeezed grapefruit and lemon. Often with a spicy mineral support. If the Alvarinho is harvested late, it tastes somewhat riper with tones of apricot and peach.

We know the Alvarinho mainly from the Portuguese wine region Vinho Verde. They let it grow on pergolas there, to get the highest possible yield per hectare. They harvest it young because they like fresh, bone-dry white Vinho Verde. And that is why the sparkling fresh Alvarinho is their great friend. Some winemakers let it mature for a long time. Then the Alvarinho changes its shape and gives rich exotic juice with a strong taste and a long aftertaste.

They are also very fond of it in Spain, they call it Albariño. The Spanish have planted it especially in northern Galicia, close to the Portuguese border. The Alvariño is responsible for the enormous increase in popularity of the Rías Baixas region, where they like to blend it with, for example, Torrontés and Treixadura.