If you ask a wine lover to name Spain’s best region for white wine, chances are the reply will be an enthusiastic “Rías Biaxas, of course!”

Northwest Spain’s Rias Biaxas (ree’-yahs bye’-shass) appellation in Galicia has made a dramatic entrance onto the global wine stage in recent years as the premier source of the country’s most alluring and refreshingly vibrant white wines. This distinctive region – with its cool, damp maritime climate and lush green vegetation – is unlike any other part of Spain, and has proven to be an ideal environment for the cultivation of premium quality Albariño (ahl-bah-reen yoh) grapes.

The Serra da Estrela winery, established in 2000 by owner Carlos Gomez, has swiftly made a name for itself as source of some of the region’s most expressive Albariño wines. The winery is situated in the Condado do Tea subzone of Rias Biaxas on the northern slopes of the Miño river, just across from Portugal’s Vinho Verde region. Albariño vines achieve excellence in the granite soils that characterize this terrain. Chief winemaker at Serra da Estrela is Cristina Mantilla.

Serra da Estrela Albariño is full-bodied and opulent, with delightful aromas and flavors of apricot, pear and honeysuckle, accented by mineral notes. It makes a natural partner for shellfish and seafood, pasta in creamy sauces and roast chicken.