Ruta 49

TJ TuesdayTrader JoesWhite WinesAlbarino
Written By Catherine Courtney

Ruta 49 Albariño

GRAPES: 100% Albariño

VINTAGE: 2024

REGION: Rías Baixas Region | Galicia, Spain

ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE: 13%

PRICE: $9.99

School’s out, the days are getting longer (thank goodness), and summer is stretching its arms just around the corner, ready to pour us a crisp glass of wine and tell us to slow down. Whether you’re packing for a beach getaway, planning lazy backyard dinners, or just looking for a new wine to sip while you unwind from work or while the kids run wild, it’s the perfect time to refresh your glass and your palate. And if you haven’t met my dear friend Albariño yet, let me introduce you to the zesty, sunshine-in-a-bottle white wine that’s about to become your summer crush.

Let me give you the rundown if you haven’t sipped on an Albariño wine. People find this wine crisp, zesty, and downright refreshing. It’s known for its high acidity ( aka mouthwatering brightness) and citrusy flavors, which make it the perfect wine for hot weather, seafood, and poolside lounging.

There are some commonalities among all grape varieties. Most Albariños have notes of green apple, lemon zest, and peach, often coupled with pineapple or melon. It's a wine that’s clean and vibrant without lingering too long on the palate. I think of it as the friend who always knows when to leave the party at the exact right time.

Light-bodied doesn’t mean boring. To me, Albariño is like a glass of sunshine with a side of sass. It’s not heavy or oaky; the flavors are fresh and fruit-forward.

While Albariño typically hails from Spain, winemakers worldwide (Mexico, California, and Portugal) are embracing this grape.

This is one of the few bottles I grabbed at Trader Joe’s last week. It’s the first time I’ve seen it at my local store, but I suspect the rest of the country received it long before Nashville.

Without further ado, let’s jump into the tasting details, shall we?

Tasting Notes:

  • Pale straw yellow hue with greenish highlights

  • Notes of Grapefruit, Pear, and Apple

  • Crisp refreshing minerality

  • Higher on the acidity range

Verdict:

If you have friends scarred by an oaky Chardonnay, I’d say this wine is for people who don’t particularly like white wine. If you like a wine that makes you feel like you’re on vacation, this may be your next favorite pour. While it is higher on the acidity scale than I typically drink, I found it quite enjoyable and probably even better when paired with fish tacos, Thai food, or any type of seafood. If you grab a bottle, drop your thoughts in the comments below. Can’t go wrong for $9.99.

Until Next Time!

Catherine Courtney

Welcome to Blonde Voyage Nashville!

I am so excited to finally see this dream become a reality.  Between the destination restaurants, the copious amount of food photos and insanely crazy travel stories, I have decided to share my journey. 

My name is Catherine Courtney and I am a Nashville native with a penchant for culinary creativity and epic travel adventures. I'll admit... I also have a slight obsession with handbags.

Two years ago, my life changed completely.  Everything that I knew to be was completely turned upside down.  I quickly realized that time is our greatest commodity and it's not to be taken for granted. I couldn't wait for the perfect time, who knew when that would be.  I needed to take the leap and explore the world on my own.  There were so many places I wanted to go, but where would I start. 

France was always one of those places that I had romanticized.  Wandering the streets of Paris and seeing the Eiffel tower were at the top of my list. Without hesitation, I booked a two week trip to the French Rivera and Paris.  It was a journey of a lifetime.  Not only were amazing friendships cultivated, but it was on that trip that i discovered that food and travel are the embers that that keep my soul on fire. 

It wasn't until I arrived back in Nashville with my passport that I realized I had been bit. Wanderlust had completely taken over.  I already started thinking about where I wanted to go next.  It was then that I decided that it was more important to have camera full of photos and a tattered journal full of stories than anything else. My heart was overflowing.

One of my favorite quotes that resonates is from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland:

"Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures...."

Join me as I explore near and far away places, filling my passport full of stamps and satiating my appetite with some of the most amazing cuisine the world has to offer. 

Thanks for reading! 

       

 

 

http://blondevoyagenashville.com
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