Apart from sherry and
M??laga, classic Spanish white wines have never
been popular outside their own country. They tended
to be oaky, high in alcohol, low acid and prematurely
aged - in a word, flat. But the wines of Rias
Baixas in Galicia (in addition to Pened??s and
a few other areas) indicate that Spanish white
wines can be very different. Rias Baixas, in the
extreme northwest bordering on Portugal, receives
moist Atlantic breezes that give it a cool, damp
Mediterranean climate. Wines here are fresh, dry
and somewhat acidic. Often compared to those of
the nearby Vinho Verde region of Portugal, they
are significantly more interesting, and perfect
for drinking with seafood and chicken dishes.
The major white varietal by far is Albari??o;
the remaining ten percent of vineyards can contain
Cai€±a Blanca, Treixadura, and Loureiro.
The best R??as Baixas wines have floral aromas
and an apricot character sometimes compared to
Condrieu. Reds are not exported.
