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Rías Baixas reinvented

Ferran Centelles
Ferran Centelles

The first, and exciting second, wave of Albariño explained. See Ferran's comprehensive accompanying tasting article also published today.

Tuesday, 9 February 2021
Dr Mar Vilanova, queen of Albariño research in Galicia

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...