Originating from Galicia province in Spain, the Albariño grape variety is a recent highly-tasty migrant to New Zealand, with Coopers Creek Vineyard claiming founder status with its 2011 vintage in Gisborne. Kiwi winegrowers saw that the thick-skinned Albariño grape was well-suited to our cooler climes, and the trend for putting a unique local spin on Old World wine styles is well under way in New Zealand. A good Albariño will dance with intense aromatic flavour – match it with Spanish fare: chicken and seafood, tart goat’s cheese, tapas and paella. Enjoy the bright zesty acidity and see if you can pick out the notes: apricots, peach, lemon citrus and almonds.