Albariño

Also: Alvarinho

Albariño is the star white grape of Rías Baixas in Atlantic Galicia, where cool, humid climate and proximity to the sea give it a distinctive citrus, floral, and saline profile. It produces high-acidity, aromatic wines with natural affinity for shellfish and fish. It also stars in Portuguese Vinho Verde (there as 'Alvarinho'). In Argentina it's a recent and promising addition: Valle de Uco, Patagonia, and Buenos Aires's Atlantic Coast are producing tense, mineral Albariños that expand the white palette beyond Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.