The white grape variety originates from the border region between Portugal and Spain. Synonyms are Albariña, Albariño, Albelleiro, Alvarin Blanco, Alvarinha, Azal Blanco, Cainho Branco, Galego, Galeguinho and Padernã.
This is a very old grape variety. According to an unverifiable hypothesis, it was allegedly brought to Galicia between the 11th and 13th centuries by Cistercian monks from Germany or France via the Way of St James. However, the assumption that it is related to the Riesling is not tenable.
The ancestry (parentage) is unknown. It should not be confused with the varieties Albarín Blanco, Albillo Real, Amaral, Azal Branco, Caíño Blanco, Galego Dourado, Savagnin Blanc = Traminer (in Spain and Australia under Albariño and Albarín Blanco) or Verdeca due to some of the same synonyms or ampelographic similarities. According to DNA analyses carried out in 2003, there is a close relationship with the Loureiro variety.
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For my many years of work as an editor with a wine and culinary focus, I always like to inform myself about special questions at Wine lexicon. Spontaneous reading and following links often leads to exciting discoveries in the wide world of wine.
Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien