Albariño

Last week, from Block 7 of our vineyards in The Brogue, our harvesters brought in a promising white grape variety: the centuries-old Spanish/Portuguese grape called Albariño.

Our friends Ed Boyce and Sarah O'Herron of Black Ankle Vineyards in Maryland pioneered the planting of this grape on the East Coast in the early 2000s, and they currently grow five acres of it.

The Bordeaux-style white grapes (Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc) planted at The Brogue can all prove a bit "cantankerous" in the vineyard, honestly, and the Rhône variety Viognier often isn't much better. By contrast, Albariño is what Carl calls "bullet-proof," bringing consistent yields and rot resistance.

Carl planted one acre (16 rows) of Albariño here in 2016. The first grapes were harvested in 2018, making their way into an Allegro Albariño. Last year, in 2019, we had wonderful yields: 4 tons in all. The 2019 grapes received "the Cadenza treatment" and were put in barrels.

Our 2019 Cadenza Albariño is currently in bottles, in anticipation of a December release. Carl's recent tasting notes include its "aromas of Asian pears and seashores" and "silky round mouthfeel with just a hint of acidity." It should pair wonderfully with light seafood dishes including shrimp and scallops.

¡Salud!