Albillo Real is a green grape thought to have originated in Spain’s Valladolid region.
Characteristics
Albillo Real will make for an aromatic, full bodied wine. There are wineries who leave part of the wine in oak barrels up to five months with the remaining part resting in steel tanks. This will produce an even more complex wine where you find both freshness, fruitiness and some nutty flavours as well.
Wines
Historically there has been a confusion between several grapes named Albillo, e.g. they have been thought to be the same variety. DNA testing has shown that this is not the case. Most known are Albillo Real and Albillo Mayor. They are however, two different varieties. Never-the-less, DO regulations still do not require that you distinguish between them. So you cannot be sure which one of the varieties you have in your bottle. The same goes for the statistics, you cannot be sure of which variety that has been reported under which name.
Food pairing
Suggested food pairings for an Albillo Real varietal wine includes white meats, mushroom or beef risotto, and mushroom pâté.
An unoaked Albillo Real wine is best served at 8°C/46°F – 10°C/50°F. If having been treated in barrique, best serving temperature is slightly higher, e.g. 10°C/50°F – 11°C/52°F.
Where is it grown?
Albillo Real is reported to be grown mainly around Madrid, Toledo, and Albacete, with additional but smaller plantings in other parts of Spain. The total area reported in 2010 was 861 ha/2,127 ac (Mpg rank 52), telling of a decline since 2000.
However, due to the history of confusion between numerous grapes named Albillo, the statistics cannot be trusted, e.g. we cannot be sure that these grapes really are Albillo Real.
History
There are historical records of Albillo being mentioned as early as the sixteenth century. The name is thought to derive from the Latin word “Alba”, meaning white, which could partly explain the confusion between different varieties. Numerous grapes in Spain have historically had Albillo as part of their name.