I recently collaborated with David Furer, who invited me (and who does most of the work) to co-host a panel on East Coast Albarino. It was a wonderful chance to highlight some of the producers making exceptional Albarino here on the east coast.Great insights from farming to winemaking. Though I was late to the taping, I did bring two of the wines tasted that night. Mea culpa! Albarino might seem like an odd choice for a grape on the east coast, but has gained great ground in the last decade. It is grown from Rhode Island and Long Island (both along the sound), through New Jersey, Maryland, and all the way down to Virginia and beyond. Almost a dozen winemakers are now producing such bottlings along the eastern seaboard - and they are all tasty!
click on the above image to link to the podcast
Joined by a late-arriving Carlo, David passes time and bright young wines with Matt Spaccarelli of Fjord from across the Hudson River in-studio while Zooming in are Todd Wuerker of New Jersey's Hawk Haven in Cape May and Rob Deford of Maryland's Boordy near Baltimore. The convo spans deep dives into grapegrowing and winemaking interspersed with spontaneous food pairing recommendations and art references. First planted by all three guests in 2013, Albariño from the Atlantic's western edge is well worth searching out and drinking.
Produced by Matty Rosenberg, Jennifer Hammoud and David Furer at Radio Free Rhinecliff
(clockwise for top left) Guests Robert Deford of Boordy Vineyards (MD),
myself, and Todd Weurker of Haw Haven (NJ).
Matt Spacarelli of Fjord Vineyards (NY)
David Furer and Matthew Mercier.
Boordy Vineyard, lead by the visionary Rob Deford, who has led the charge for vinifera in Maryland and also of stewarding the land, show cased two of his three Albarinos. Boordy produces a stainless steel Albarino, a barrel aged Albarino, and the Stone Fence Albarino/Chardonnay blend. I love all three, but for the sale of brevity we tasted only two during the tasting - the stainless steel version and the Albarino/Chardonnay blend. The stainless steel was all fruit and flavor and freshness. A very good representation of the grape. The Stone Fence was much more sophisticated reminding me of an Arbois or Arneis, sophisticated, complex, and extremely well balanced.
Matt Spacarelli is the co-owner/founder/winemaker along with his wife Casey Erdmann, of Fjord Vineyards. Fjord, located in the Hudson Valley, though not that old, has established itself as one of the best artisanal winemakers in the state of New York. They represent both quality, flavor, and the cutting edge of quality winemaking. Matt brought a sparkling Albarino which will be available soon, and which was most impressive. Great flavor, freshness, and acidity made it an instant winner. Their more traditional still version, done in stainless steel, was mouthwatering, loaded with citrus, and flavor, with huge aromatics. Absolutely stood tall in the tasting.
Todd Weurker, of Hawk Haven, located not far from Cape May, New Jersey, brought his Albarino. Todd's vineyards echo the maritime benefits and forces of his region. There's almost a salinity mixed in with the fresh fruit and terrific acidity. A perfect compliment for raw seafood as well as broiled or grilled fish. Big and robust, but light enough to capture the imagination, Hawk Haven's Albarino is an absolute eye opener.
Try some East Coast Albarino! It's fantastic!