The Alvarelhão
Grape
A red wine grape native to Portugal, Alvarelhão produces light-bodied wines with high acidity and aromatic intensity, featuring fresh, floral, and red fruit characteristics. It is also grown in California, where it is appreciated for its versatility in varietal wines and blends.
Alvarelhão
Grape History
Alvarelhão is a lesser-known wine grape variety that originates from Portugal. This grape is also known as Alva and Albarello in various regions. Historically, Alvarelhão was commonly used in the production of light-bodied, easy-drinking red wines. The grape is known for its high acidity and bright, red fruit flavors, making it suitable for fresh and fruity wine styles.
Alvarelhão is primarily grown in the Douro and Dão regions of Portugal. In the Douro, Alvarelhão is often blended with other grape varieties such as Touriga Nacional and Tinta Barroca to produce port wines. In the Dão region, Alvarelhão is used in red wine blends to add acidity and fruitiness to the final product.
Interestingly, Alvarelhão is also grown in California, particularly in the Sierra Foothills region. California winemakers have been experimenting with Alvarelhão in recent years, incorporating it into blends or producing varietal wines to showcase its unique characteristics.
The future of Alvarelhão is somewhat uncertain. While the grape has a long history in Portugal, its popularity has waned over the years as other grape varieties have gained more attention. However, with the increasing interest in indigenous and lesser-known grape varieties, there is potential for Alvarelhão to make a comeback. Its high acidity and fruity profile make it well-suited for modern winemaking techniques focused on producing fresh and approachable wines.
In conclusion, Alvarelhão is a grape variety with a rich history and unique characteristics that make it a valuable component in red wine blends. While its popularity has declined in recent years, there is potential for Alvarelhão to regain relevance in the wine world as consumers seek out more diverse and distinct wine offerings.
Introduction
Hello, my name is Franklin Laurel - Welcome!
I started drinking wine in 1992 when I was in my early twenties and recently married. Like many other young Southern Californians, it started out with White Zinfandel. As we were a couple of young DINKs just beginning life together, and on a budget, our go-to-wine was Sutter Home White Zinfandel, which tasted a lot like wine coolers and probably cost at the time $2.49. If we really were going to splurge, we would step it up and buy Beringer White Zinfandel for $2.99. Those were the days....
After a little time, we decided to get fancy. We stepped up our game and bought some wonderful 2-Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's. The Charles Shaw (Trader Joe's Exclusive Label) wine, also known as 2-Buck-Chuck extended our pallet into Reds for only $1.99 a bottle. Over the years we continued to grow in our understanding of wine (finally ran into some good wine) and we slowly kept buying better and better bottles.
Our first wine club purchase was from Kenwood's Vineyards, in Kenwood, California located in Sonoma Valley, right next to the famous Napa Valley. I began to learn about tobacco leather, and earthiness, and lots of other strange terminology when tasting their signature Zinfandels (of the red variety). So that is how it all began.
Fast forward a couple decades, and we have been members of five different wine clubs, and now have a passion for California's red wines. My favorite by far is Cabernet Sauvignon, while my wife fancies a good Syrah, Malbec, or Merlot - but she also loves the smell of a wine barrel room, which is all about the notes of Cabernet Sauvignon.
As I come across great wine resources and useful information that I find in planning my own wine trips, I will share here for anyone that might stumble across my humble website.
Cheers! - Franklin Laurel