Albariño is a rare sight outside of Spain and Portugal, but Albariño is very up-and-coming in Virginia. Afton Mountain Vineyards is one of Virginia’s first farm wineries, with vines dating from the late 1970s. Their 2021 Albariño was awarded a 2023 Virginia Gold Cup Competition Gold Medal. It is packed with stone fruits, hay, grapefruit, lemon zest, and passion fruit — all in an immensely delicious and mouth-watering style. This example of Albariño demonstrates that we need more of the variety planted on the East Coast.
Afton Mountain Vineyards, Monticello (Virginia) Albariño 2021
By Miranda Franco