This is a rare wine in Spain, let alone Ireland.

It’s from the hugely exciting and up-and-coming Cebreros wine region, made using a forgotten grape called Albillo Real.

It’s the first grape to mature in the vineyards around here, and in the past, people would have eaten it while picking the other grapes. The small berries, freckled skin and sweet taste make it especially delicious, and also for birds!

These characteristics however make Albillo Real difficult to turn into great wine, and that’s where a rising star winemaker like Maite Sánchez comes in.

She sources the grapes from three high-altitude vineyards around Cebreros, with an average vine age of 70 years, and on sandy-granite soils.

The grapes are gently crushed by foot for two days, before being transferred into clay amphora, where the wine is aged for 6-7 months. This winemaking preserves all the gorgeous fruit, like pears, orange blossom, and grapefruit.

It’s a golden, citrusy and full-bodied white with hints of honey and tropical flavours, and a distinct minerality from the granite soils in the vineyard.

It’s even better with food, and it really reminds me of a good Chenin Blanc from South Africa.

You won’t find Albillo Real anywhere else in Ireland, and we only have a tiny amount of left. So give it a try while it’s still available!