California’s Albariño

The white wine grape has become a “recent darling” of California’s Central Coast.

Albariño is best known as a Spanish wine, “but there’s a less-known spate of bottles with American provenance,” said TastingTable.com. The white wine grape has become a “recent darling” of California’s Central Coast, where winemakers are creating wines that are “lively” and “food-friendly” with salads and ceviche.

2010 Bonny Doon Vineyard Albariño ($15). This “zesty” wine from star winemaker Randall Grahm “matches well with the minerality of oysters on the half shell.”

2011 Longoria Albariño ($23). Cultivated from a single vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley, this wine is “practically designed for butter-drenched lobster rolls.”

2011 Acha Blanca ($23). Idiosyncratic winemaker Mark Herold sources grapes from grower Markus Bokisch, who’s made a name for himself growing Spanish varietals just east of San Francisco.