Albariño is the famous white grape variety of the Atlantic coast of Spain and Portugal — particularly the Rias Baixas region in Galicia. Albariño thrives in the temperate and maritime Marlborough climate. Albariño is a new grape variety in New Zealand, with the first plantings in 2009 and our first harvest, from a Galician clone, in 2013.

Lynne and Chris Wilson grew the Sleepers Albariño on a low river terrace of free-draining limestone loam above the Kēkerengū River. The vines at Kēkerengū are our first to see bud-burst, but the cooler temperatures prolong the growing season. The Albariño is the last of all our fruit to be harvested. 

Chris and Lynne Wilson’s Sleepers Vineyard has a strong maritime influence, and the natural qualities of the Albariño grape express this beautifully in the finished wine. Hand-picked fruit was part-aged in old French oak with some malolactic fermentation.

I make Albariño from the Kēkerengū Coast of Marlborough because I like the crisp drinkability of the variety and believe it is well suited to our food and climate.

Simon Waghorn — Winemaker