22 Jun Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Bodegas Aguiuncho Mar de Ons 2020 Albarino, Rias Baixas

Summer is here and as the temperatures rise, a glass of crisp, refreshing white wine hits the spot! What screams vibrant and refreshing more than a glass of Albariño from Rías Baixas, Spain. Not only did the Bodegas Aguiuncho Mar de Ons 2020 Albarino, Rias Baixas, the Please The Palate wine of the week, hit the spot when it came to freshness, but the blue bottle with white painted fish made me feel like I was sitting at the beach as I sipped the wine.  Albariño is the signature grape of Rías Baixas, accounting for 90% of all plantings. Rías Baixas is nestled in Spain’s northwest region of Galicia. Known as “Green Spain”, the region is characterized by moderate year-round temperatures, ocean mists and an average annual rainfall that in some spots is nearly three times the national average. Galicia’s damp Atlantic-influenced climate is, however, balanced by over 2,200 hours of sunshine. It is this sunshine that allows Albariño to ripen fully with natural acidity. Winemaking started in Galicia during the Romans, but the “modern” winemaking history of Rías Baixas began in 1980 when an official denomination was created specifically for the Albariño grape variety. Today, DO Rías Baixas consists of five distinct sub-regions: Val do Salnés, Condado do Tea, O Rosal, Soutomaior and Ribeira do Ulla.  Bodegas Aguiuncho is located in the Valle del Salnécan in the Galician Rías Baixas. The winery was started in 1999 by father and son Manuel Troncoso Poceiro and Manuel Troncoso Prieto who brought their shared dream to life. The Bodegas Aguiuncho Mar de Ons 2020 Albarino, Rias Baixas ($15) is a straw yellow color. The wine has a very vibrant nose with notes of citrus, apples, melon, herbs, and minerals. On the palate, the acidity is intense and washes over the palate leaving a lingering citrus finish.  This is a wine to pair with fresh oysters or other seafood. It is perfect for the hot weather. Enjoy it by the pool or at the beach or while sitting inside in air conditioning.