The white grape variety originates from the border region Portugal/Spain. Synonyms are Albariña, Albariño, Albelleiro, Alvarin Blanco, Alvarinha, Azal Blanco, Cainho Branco, Galego, Galeguinho and Padernã. Parentage (parentage) is unknown. Despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or similarities, it should not be confused with the varieties Albarín Blanco, Albillo Real, Amaral, Azal Branco, Caíño Bl anco, Galego Dourado, Savagnin Blanc = Traminer (in Spain and Australia under Albariño and Albarín Blanco) or Verdeca. Alvarinho was a crossing partner of the new varieties Alvarinho Liláz, Alvarinho Silvestre, Alvarinho Topasio, Casalze and Valveirinha. It is a very old grape variety. According to an unverifiable hypothesis, it was supposedly brought to Galicia by Cistercian monks from Germany or France via the Camino de Santiago between the 11th and 13th centuries. However, the assumption of a relationship with the Riesling is not tenable. According to DNA analyses carried out in 2003, there is a close relationship to the Loureiro variety. The Caíño Blanco variety is the result of a presumably natural cross between Albariño (Alvarinho) x Caíño Bravo (Amaral).
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Dominik Trick
Technischer Lehrer, staatl. geprüfter Sommelier, Hotelfachschule Heidelberg