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ALBARIÑO HAPPY HOUR! |
Space is running out - hurry to RSVP! From Spain's West Coast To Yours... Join us after work at Restaurant B44 for an unprecedented tasting of one of Spain's white wine treasures! Rias Baixas lies in the heart of Galicia, the isolated region in the northwestern corner of the Iberian Peninsula above Portugal. Far from the traditional travel poster image of Spain—hot, arid and dry—Galicia is known for its mild, maritime climate, its coastline serrated by estuaries, called rías, and its ever-present sea. In many ways, this emerald-green region, where verdant slopes sweep down to meet a mist-shrouded sea, is more reminiscent of Ireland than Spain. The name Galicia is Celtic in origin, for it was the Celts who settled here as early as the 11th century B.C., leaving behind a legacy of fair complexions and a Celtic-sounding musical tradition. Oddly enough, Gallego, as the region’s language is known, has no Celtic strain, being instead a half-Spanish and half-Portuguese dialect. Established in 1988, Rias Baixas (pronounced ree-ahs-by-shuss) is the most important Denomination of Origin (DO) in Galicia. The region is further divided into five designated sub-zones of varying climate and soil types: Val do Saines,  Condado do Tea, O Rosal, Ribeira do Ulla and
Soutomaior. Val do Saines is the original and oldest of these with the
largest concentration of wineries, as well as being the birthplace of
the Albariño grape. While 12 grape varieties are permitted in the DO,
Albariño represents 90% of all plantings. Other important grapes include
Treixadura and Loureiro, which may be blended with Albariño. One may also find Torrontes and Godello planted
to a lesser extent. Vineyard plots are generally quite small and
harvesting is done by hand. While most wines produced in Rias Baixas do not see any oak, the region does produce a variety of styles through various winemaking techniques such as extended maceration and partial or full malolactic fermentation. The different  subzones also express subtle differences in character, but the
wines all share a number of qualities. Pale, golden lemon in color, they
are crisp, elegant and fresh. These food-friendly wines burst with
luscious aromas of honeysuckle, citrus, ripe melon, peach, pear,
apricot, mango and other exotic fruits. While the wines are fruity, they
are also bone-dry with bright acidity, mineral overtones, and moderate
alcohol. With a flavor intensity sure to please even the most ardent red
wine lover, the wines are at home with a wide range of dishes, from
their classic pairing with seafood to Asian fare, or even salsa and
chips.On May 14th, just in time for summer, we're very fortunate to be able to explore Albariño in detail at one of the most comprehensive tastings the West Coast has seen! Representatives from ten Rias Baixas wineries will be on hand to pour their Albariño-based wines and to discuss the region. Paired with the amazing culinary creations of Chef Daniel Olivella at Restaurant B44, this is an event not to be missed. Space is limited! Albariño Happy Hour Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 5pm to 7pm Restaurant B44 44 Belden Place, San Francisco, 94104 $35 per person in advance RSVP to The Jug Shop at 415.885.2922 |
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