Ah, Valentine’s Day. I’m never quite sure what to make of this holiday. On the one hand, I can think of lots of reasons to boycott it: those who are not currently in relationships either end up feeling left out or like they need to engage in special anti-Valentine’s Day activities while those who are in relationships are often duped into believing that they must lavish their significant other with expensive flowers and gifts in order to show their affection (or, in order to avoid sleeping on the couch that night.) How lame! On the other hand, however, I do always feel like I should do something nice for Robert on Valentine’s Day just so he knows that I care and am not a complete curmudgeon. Usually, this means planning a special dinner. Nothing too extravagant, just a nicer-than-average meal.

A nice meal in my household almost always involves some kind of seafood. Salmon, mussels, lobster; all of these are wonderful foods that can easily be transformed into a romantic meal. This year, I decided to make Mussels, Clams and Shrimp with Saffron Risotto and Green Olive Relish. Similar to a Spanish paella, this rice & seafood stew seemed suitably romantic for the occasion (but also very easy – a bonus!) And, because no fancy dinner would be complete without wine, I decided to turn this Valentine’s Day into a winesday. Though it’s not a traditional dish, the stew seemed Spanish enough that it should be served with a Spanish wine. I’ve been pretty excited about Spanish wines recently. I haven’t yet tried a Spanish white, however, so, for this winesday, I picked up a bottle of Condes de Albarei 2006 Albariño at The Spanish Table.

Albariño is produced primarily in the Galicia region of Northwestern Spain as well as in Northern Portugal where it is known as Alvarinho and is used often as a component in Portugal’s famous Vinho Verde. Albariño is widely considered to be one of the best of Spain’s white wine grape varietals. It thrives particularly well in the Rías Baixas D.O (Denominación de Origen.) Wines labeled “Albariño” from the Rías Baixas are 100% varietal whereas wines simply called “Rías Baixas” are made up of 70% or less Albariño grapes. Albariño is now also being grown in small amounts in Australia and North America.

It is believed that there is a genetic link between Albariño and Riesling. Both grape varietals grow extremely well in cool climates. Albariño wines are known for having very distinctive aromas, similar to those of Riesling or Gewurztraminer. Aromas and flavors often found in Albariño wines include oranges and citrus, grass, nuts, peach, and melon. Typically, these wines are very high in acidity and low in alcohol (alcohol levels are usually around 12% to 12.5%.) Some Albariño wines even have a touch of effervescence. These wines are meant to be drunk young; their vibrant flavors and aromas diminish within a few months of bottling.

Based on the descriptions above, the Condes de Albarei 2006 Albariño certainly seemed to be a good example of this type of wine. The nose was quite sweet and floral like a Gewurztraminer, but, unlike a typical Gewurz, the wine was bone dry and citrusy in flavor. This contrast between the sweet aroma and the acidic palate made me appreciate the wine even more. Very unique! Our dinner was delicious. The saffron rice was creamy and flavorful and provided a striking backdrop for the black mussels. And the green olive relish added an unusual but tasty touch. A simple salad was all that was needed to round out the meal. I also splurged on a Nutty Brownie and some cookies from Three Girls Bakery in the Market for our dessert. Maybe this makes me a sucker after all, but what Valentine’s Day would be complete without chocolate?

1 Comment »

  1. Mmm, Albarino. Your meal sounds fabulous too. We just did our tradition – but what a tradition it is! Classic cheese fondue with bread and veggies. And this year I kicked it up with dessert – Boca Negra with Chipotles from Epicurious. It came out great and had the perfect kick.

    Comment by Katie — February 15, 2008 @ 2:21 pm

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