Afton Mountain
Albariño
2024
Virginia, USA
Monticello AVA
Albariño 100%
Stainless Steel 33%
Ripe melon, Banana, Crushed oyster shells, Fresh pear.
About
Afton Mountain 2024 Albariño
The 2024 Albariño was made with balance in mind using 100% stainless steel and no malolactic fermentation to highlight freshness and bright aromatics while maintaining elevated acidity.
The 2024 vintage was excellent, and the weather conditions allowed us to stick to our low intervention philosophy in the vineyard. Very little was needed on our end to help the grapes present their natural expression of tropical notes like melon and banana on the nose, with some oyster shell-like minerality on the mid palate.
Definitely a food friendly wine, but would also be great chilled and on its own during a hot summer day.
A bright, clean, and vibrant wine from the start. This is a wonderfully food friendly wine that will be perfect for almost any type of seafood.
Pairings
In a Pinch
Shellfish, soft cheeses.
Deeper Dive
One of the great food friendly varieties, Albariño maintains high acidity with a slightly round mouthfeel and even a bit of salinity. Its medium body allows it to cross multiple dishes as well.
The best and most classic options are going to come from the sea. Shellfish, Salmon, Sea bass, or some type of ceviche are all great choices and will help this wine stand out.
It also does well with fresh salads and can stand up to some poultry, especially with some herbal seasoning.
Stand out features: Elevated acidity, tropical fruit notes, medium body.
Pairing Scale
This is a general guide to give you an idea where this wine falls in a spectrum of dish complexities.
Steer Clear
Rich red meats or anything grilled. The flavors in this wine pop for sure, but it can still get overpowered with bigger dishes.
Cheeses
Recipe Ideas
Service
Which glasses?
Go with all-purpose or white wine glasses if you have them.
Should I decant this?
Why "Doesn't need it?
This wine has a lot to show, especially once it has some time to breathe. But that can be achieved in the glass with some generous swirling instead of breaking out the decanter.
Serving Temp
The correct serving temperature is important to show a wine’s true potential, but don’t stress over getting the temp exactly right. Use the chart below to try to get in the right ballpark.
Aging
When should I open this?
If a wine has been released by the producer and is available for sale, it means it is ready to drink. Wines don’t necessarily get “better” with age, they just change. Typically, this change involves things like losing fresh fruit flavors in exchange for more savory notes.
The moment you should open the bottle depends on your preference, so it’s more important to understand the evolution and the life span of the bottle than it is to try to time its opening perfectly. (It’s far better to open a bottle too early than too late.)
This bottle should probably be opened between:
2025 – 2031
Producer
ABOUT US
In 1978, vines were first planted at what we now call Afton Mountain Vineyards, making our farm one of the first vineyards in Virginia. In those days there were only six such farm wineries in the state. We are grateful that the original owners chose such a well-suited location for viticulture, allowing us to continue to produce top quality wines over 45 years later. Since 2009, we have doubled our plantings to include 24 acres of vines, planted with 11 different varieties of Vitis vinifera grapes: Albariño, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Tannat.
Situated on the eastern slope of our namesake Afton Mountain, our vines start each morning with a front row seat to the rising sun, maximizing each plant’s daily solar exposure and ripening potential. Below the surface, here in the heart of Virginia’s Piedmont, our vineyard is rooted in what is known as dyke-loam soil; a unique mix of heavy clay and silt that formed from eons of erosion of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
At nearly 1,000 feet of elevation, we are generally able to avoid the risks of late spring frosts and we are sheltered from excessive rain by the surrounding mountain side. A prevailing breeze which flows through the nearby Rockfish and Humpback gaps acts as a natural dehumidifier, reducing the some of the challenging effects of our area’s humid climate. Growing grapes is never easy, but these features of our farm help us to produce wines that we are proud of year after year.
OUR WINEMAKER
It is often said that great wine is made in the vineyard, and while it is true that well-made wines require well-grown grapes, there is no substitute for a skilled and passionate winemaker. Our Winemaker, Damien Blanchon, has been tending vines and producing wine in Virginia since obtaining a degree in viticulture and enology in his native France in 2006.
Damien joined AMV in 2011 and oversees the winemaking and vineyard management operations of the business. He and his team work diligently to implement sustainable and environmentally respectful practices both inside the winery and outside in the vineyard. Born into a winemaking family, Damien relies on his deep experience and he approaches each new growing season with the goal of showcasing our terroir and balancing the unique character of every vintage.
Interested in joining our wine club?
MEMBER BENEFITS
- Each shipment is three bottles of wine, picked up by you, or shipped to your door, four times annually, at a 20% discount from retail price (Plus tax and shipping, if applicable.)
- 20% discount on all bottles.
- NEW BENEFIT! 25% off cases!
- Members enjoy pre-release and special vintages not available to the general public.
- Complementary glass or flight (2 per membership, once per month, please).
- Invitations to private, Wine Club only events such as vineyard tours, barrel tastings, shipment release parties, special food & wine pairings, wine dinners, and more!
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