2021 Serra da Estrela Albarino Rias Baixas 750 ml

Albariño is one of the most compelling white grapes in the world, packed with blossomy aromas and juicy orchard-fruit, with a refreshingly acidic cut—and it’s capable of true greatness. The 2021 Serra da Estrela Albariño, which offers the peachy essence of the grape, is a stellar example of the ultimate springtime white.

The terrific Adegas Valmiñor, the producer of the Serra de Estrela, was founded in 1997 in the southern zone of Rías Baixas, on the frontier with Portugal. Cristina Mantilla has been the winemaker from the very beginning, and in 2003, she founded her own enology consultancy, Mantivinos, as her renown as a winemaker grew.

The meaning of “Serra da Estrela” is twofold: First, it’s a famous Portuguese cheese listed in The Ark of Taste, an international catalog of endangered heritage-foods, which is maintained by Slow Food. The cheese also happens to be a perfect pairing for this Albariño. Second, it’s named for the Serra da Estrela Natural Park and its mountain chain, and the winery says the Albariño seems to mirror the clear streams, green reflections, and freshness of this area.

The wine comes from the O Rosal Valley, located in the south of the Rías Baixas, by the mouth of the Miño River. It is the southernmost of the five subzones of Rías Baixas, and thanks to its warm microclimate, it produces fruity, generous wines.

Ask any retailer worth their salt: What’s the one white wine that customers keep coming back for, and order again and again by the case? Albariño is where it’s at.