Ebenezer Valvi
Ebenezer is a wine enthusiast passionate about the influence of art in wine. As a holder of the WSET Level 3 certification in Wines and as the owner of the design agency REVL Creative, he aims to bring a modern approach to the collaboration of art and wine. Ebenezer lives in Burnsville with his wife and son and is looking for ways to expand the wine frontier south of the river!
Summer reveals the best in many ways: the craving for grilled foods, warm sunshine, lake days, and, most importantly, the need for a refreshing glass of wine. Traditionally, white wines and summer go hand in hand, as they can be chilled to cooler temperatures while preserving their delightful fruit flavors, acidity, and freshness. Although my love for New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs is going nowhere, in the last few years a new contender has come to steal my heart; Albariño.
Albariño is a less commonly known varietal across the board even though its history dates back to the 12th century. Making its strongest debut from Rias Baxis, a small coastal DO in the northwest corner of Spain, it is a wine that draws out wonderful expressions from the maritime climate. With features like strong acidity, vibrant floral notes, and a palette that shows citrus, melon, and stone fruits like apricot, and peach. It is a grape and a wine that stands tall. While the wine boasts a range of wonderful elements, the two that truly make it my go-to bottle are its minerality and effervescence.
I consistently find subtle notes of salt and fine bubbles in nearly every bottle, which contributes to a refreshing wine. And even though it does not fall under the umbrella of sparkling wine it brings about a natural “spritz” that makes you stop and say “Woah that was different”. Thanks to modern winemaking techniques like stainless steel tank fermentation and cold fermentation, we get to enjoy these expansive fruit flavors and the ability to retain some of that natural CO2.
As Albariño’s popularity has expanded, it’s now found in regions such as Portugal (where it is known as Alvarinho), the United States (California, Oregon), New Zealand, Australia, and parts of South America like Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. This adaptable grape highlights its vibrant acidity and floral notes across various regions, demonstrating the versatility of its flavor as shaped by winemakers and producers.
The Granbazan Etiqueta Ambar Albariño has been grabbing my attention lately with its peachy and citrus flavors. It is well-rounded with notes of minerality, reminiscent of wet stones and subtle hints of saltiness. A true and repeatedly beautiful expression of Rias Baixas.
If you tend to find yourself grabbing for a chardonnay, I would suggest the La Marea Albariño which brings a different approach to the palette with additions of curd, hints of biscuit, and an overall more creamy mouthfeel.
And a recent favorite at France 44 has been the Lagar de Cervera Rias Baixas 2022, which brings forward an extraordinarily elegant nose of ripe white fruit, apple, pear, and citrus fruit. It is very expressive in the mouth, creamy yet fresh. A very balanced finish makes it a perfect exponent of the Albariño variety.
This weekend, Friday-Sunday (8/2-8/4), all Albariño will be 10% off! So stop in, chat with our wine staff to find the right bottle for your palate, and enjoy a glass of your favorite new summer wine!
