The first, and exciting second, wave of Albariño explained. See Ferran's comprehensive accompanying tasting article also published today.
The first wave: 1980s
It is well known that Rías Baixas offers the world one of the most exciting and vibrant still white wines: Albariño. Its position in Galicia in the north-west of the country, the oceanic influence, and its deeply traditional character give all of the region's wines a unique profile.
However, it has not always been this way in Galicia. At the beginning of the 1980s, among the 33,000 hectares (81,500 acres) of vines planted, 75% were the sherry grape...