From big rich reds to fresh, crisp whites, from fruity roses to fortified sherries to sparkling wines--Spain does it all.
Despite what you might have read in high school English class, the rain in Spain does not fall mainly on the plain. The plains are dry and hot. The rain, in fact, falls here, in the northwest corner of Spain, in the area that juts out above Portugal like a little shelf. An oasis amidst the sun-scorched desert, Rías Baixis is considerably cooler and wetter than the rest of Spain, a climate that has proven just right for white grapes. And the grape that stands out in Rías Baixis is Albariño. Some say Albariño is a relative of Riesling, brought south from Burgundy by monks--but these are fighting words to those who say it’s a local original. Light and crisp, Albariño matches beautifully with the local seafood.
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