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I know it's probably a basic answer but Albarino is probably my favorite Spanish white varietal. Pairs so well with many food options and is just delicious
I had a Grillo wine from Sicily recently. Made in the appassimento style where they dry the grapes. Delicious wine, lots of browned banana and tropical flavors.
I am Spanish but my wife is Italian and I do like both white wines from Italy and Spain. So much diversity but I can recommend dry white palomino based wines (vinos de pasto) from Cádiz. This a hot spot for whites right know in Spain. Regarding Italy, Fiano is one of my favourites too along with Soave garganega wines and Trentino-alto adige Gewürztraminer and Pinot Blanc. Cheers! 🍷🍷
You should regional tastings and varietals from different country tastings as well (I know you already have done content like that in the past but continuing to do things like that). great video
Great video, I'm more into reds than whites but I like some whites. I recommend Bermejo (Malvasía Grape) from Lanzarote, very good, and Villalobillos (airen) from La Mancha (I like the one fermented in barrels better but the normal one is also good). and the wines made with Godello or Albariño are really good value for money... (normally I also like Verdejo and Chardonnay, but as I say I'm more into red, so I don't pay a lot for whites, I'm sure there are better ones).
when it comes to spanish whites I am quite inexperienced. The only memorable one ive had is the tondonia reserva blanco which obviously is very good but at that price point it kind of has to be. Italian whites on the other hand I really love, particularly what the foradori family is doing in trentino. I just had their manzoni again last week and was again stunned by how delicious and complex it is. Also there are some great chardonnays coming out of italy (although they can be quite expensive)
It's hard to choose Spanish over Italian or vice versa. They both make incredible white wines in a variety of styles and flavors and availability plays into which wines people drink, know and enjoy. Maybe I would venture to say that Italy has a slight advantage in branding and marketing over Spain when it comes to people knowing their wines and the lifestyle/image associated with it. Etna Bianco due to limited production and growing demand is getting more expensive. I am more keen to drink Fiano, Greco, Pecorino or Vermentino. Drinking Godello was an eye opener last year and yes Albarino can be great but it can also be rather samey at times. Great video, cheers!
I appreciate you are pairing quality white wines from Spain and Italy. I think they're getting more popular these days, and they are something else than the obvious chardonnay or sauvignon blanc. Albariño is my number one in Spain. Pairs nice with seafood, which is around the corner where I live. I had some nice Rueda's too (verdejo). In Italy I share your love for friulano. Etna is not so much my cup of tea, besides that they're expensive. I'd like to add garganega and trebbiano. I just love well made Soave Classico.
Fun tasting! In Spain I love albarino like Agraban and Pomares and LdH Rioja blanco. Getting more into godello, need to try Palacios. In Italy I also love Verdicchio and Soave, Pieropan La Rocca blew my mind at its price. Also just had my first Massa Derthona timorasso thanks to your recommendation and need to drink more! Oh and Vaudieu Clos Belvedere is some amazing amazing grenache blanc
I do think Spain is unparalleled value/quality for money when it comes to wine. Albariño is one of my all-time favorites, but I’ve tried and loved Viura, Godello, Verjedo, Txacoli, even Beba! I’ve also had still single varietal Xarel-lo and Perellada by Can Sumoi, which was excellent. A white Rioja was one of my first big “wow” wines, (tasted like grilled pineapple and coconut, remarkable.) That being said, I have been getting more into Italian wines the past couple of years and especially trying to taste as many lesser-known grapes as possible. I used to think I didn’t like Etna Bianco, and then a bottle from Murgo changed my mind. Fiano and Lugana have been really exciting, absolutely anything from Friuli gets me pumped. It must have been so hard for you to choose only 2 grapes from each country! Never heard of Albilo before, will have to seek that out!
@@drmatthewhorkey I am always trying to taste new things, which is one of the reasons I love your channel. You have taught me about new wines I hadn’t read about/didn’t know before.
For Spain I like Rioja Blanco and dry PX and for Italy Timorasso and dry Gewürztraminer from Südtirol and all of the whites from Sardegna. As for Etna they also have stunning Rosé.
I've had a lot more Spanish whites than Italian ones so not really fair to choose a favourite. I do like Sicilian whites, Grillo offers tremendous value, while Etna Bianco is a bit pricey but is wonderful when it's good. My favourite Spanish whites are Godello, Albariño and Verdejo, in that order. I really want to keep exploring other whites, I had a great Tempranillo blanco a few months ago, don't think I've had Garnacha Blanca yet.
Late to this but I just returned from a couple of weeks in my home in Andalusia. You can imagine I have something to say. It's very interesting because I really believe that both countries are producing amazing white wines and many of these are flying under the radar. Wine connoisseurship has been associated with red wine for so long and not that long ago white wine was believed to be a 'ladies' drink in some idiotic gender stereotype. Anyway, here's the thing. Italy has a fantastic array of interesting whites. Spain's more limited whites are often the underappreciated wines of their famous red bedfellows like Rioja. There are some regions better known for their whites like Rueda, Rais Baixas and even Txakoli in Pais Vasco. Here's what's really interesting in Spain right now though. Wineries all over the country are producing wines you would never associate with Spain. I just had a superb bottle of Sommos Collection Chardonnay from the Somontano (well worth trying) and they are bottling other interesting stuff like Gewurztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc as well. It's the same with the reds where we are seeing Pinot Noir and Petit Verdot being bottled, especially in places like Andalusia where there is a commitment to really low intervention 'raw wine.' So, everyone needs to try far more great white wines from both of these countries. WT
@@drmatthewhorkey Thanks Matt. You're right in saying there is a really healthy movement taking place in Spain with regards to 'natural wine.' I've met some of these small scale but highly committed producers. They are absolutely adamant that wine was made in a natural way until very recently and they are determined to go back to those ways. A week ago I was in a cracking restaurant in the village of Almedinilla and they had a small selection of local 'sierra' wines which were produced by a wonderful producer in the Montilla region. I went for the Petit Verdot for 15 euros and it was very good with my Iberico pork steak I can tell you. The owner of the restaurant came out to talk to me about my choice because hardly anybody chooses these wines and he has become a champion. He was nervous that I might not like it but so pleased when I approved and he gave me a discount when I bought a second to take away. He informed me that Petit Verdot is made for the Andalusian climate which takes far less time to make a good wine than France.
its interesting that the Fiano is called FAINO on the label..A before I, is that just the name of the particular wine, or is a a regional dialect of italian, or even a place?
Please, when you reveal, do it in the same order you taste. That is 1,2,3,4 and don’t skip around. My brain saves the wine info in the order you taste.
I’m the person that sources the bottles and then I have someone mix them up for me… With a small number of wines (like 4) if I taste one by one it doesn’t become a true blind tasting as it’s easier to know what the third and fourth bottle is…
I've launched Channel Memberships! Click the 'Join’ Button to see the perks. I'm most excited about a monthly Live Stream Hangout/Tasting for those who join the Grand Reserve tier! Thank you so much: www.youtube.com/@drmatthewhorkey/join
I know it's probably a basic answer but Albarino is probably my favorite Spanish white varietal. Pairs so well with many food options and is just delicious
It is a good grape!
Same!
Albariño with the seafood is lovely
Indeed
I had a Grillo wine from Sicily recently. Made in the appassimento style where they dry the grapes. Delicious wine, lots of browned banana and tropical flavors.
I am a fan of that grape too
Italian Arneis is one of my favourite white varieties. Fruit notes ,almost tropical textural and saline.
Mouthwatering.
😮
Give it a test drive Matt.
The Vietti is a ripper.
It’s a lot better than Fiano, you could use that stuff as paint stripper 🤣
Great video. I appreciate that you are always thinking of the viewer. Well done. Thanks.
🙏🙏🙏
I am Spanish but my wife is Italian and I do like both white wines from Italy and Spain. So much diversity but I can recommend dry white palomino based wines (vinos de pasto) from Cádiz. This a hot spot for whites right know in Spain. Regarding Italy, Fiano is one of my favourites too along with Soave garganega wines and Trentino-alto adige Gewürztraminer and Pinot Blanc. Cheers! 🍷🍷
I’ve heard a lot about those wines and want to try them. Palomino is an interesting grape indeed, not just for Sherry!
You should regional tastings and varietals from different country tastings as well (I know you already have done content like that in the past but continuing to do things like that). great video
More to come ;)
Great video, I'm more into reds than whites but I like some whites. I recommend Bermejo (Malvasía Grape) from Lanzarote, very good, and Villalobillos (airen) from La Mancha (I like the one fermented in barrels better but the normal one is also good). and the wines made with Godello or Albariño are really good value for money... (normally I also like Verdejo and Chardonnay, but as I say I'm more into red, so I don't pay a lot for whites, I'm sure there are better ones).
Wines from Lanzarote can be so fun!
when it comes to spanish whites I am quite inexperienced. The only memorable one ive had is the tondonia reserva blanco which obviously is very good but at that price point it kind of has to be. Italian whites on the other hand I really love, particularly what the foradori family is doing in trentino. I just had their manzoni again last week and was again stunned by how delicious and complex it is. Also there are some great chardonnays coming out of italy (although they can be quite expensive)
That’s a helluva wine!
It's hard to choose Spanish over Italian or vice versa. They both make incredible white wines in a variety of styles and flavors and availability plays into which wines people drink, know and enjoy.
Maybe I would venture to say that Italy has a slight advantage in branding and marketing over Spain when it comes to people knowing their wines and the lifestyle/image associated with it.
Etna Bianco due to limited production and growing demand is getting more expensive. I am more keen to drink Fiano, Greco, Pecorino or Vermentino. Drinking Godello was an eye opener last year and yes Albarino can be great but it can also be rather samey at times.
Great video, cheers!
Thanks! Italy may have the upper hand with more indigenous white grapes but Spain is doing stellar stuff too
I appreciate you are pairing quality white wines from Spain and Italy. I think they're getting more popular these days, and they are something else than the obvious chardonnay or sauvignon blanc. Albariño is my number one in Spain. Pairs nice with seafood, which is around the corner where I live. I had some nice Rueda's too (verdejo). In Italy I share your love for friulano. Etna is not so much my cup of tea, besides that they're expensive. I'd like to add garganega and trebbiano. I just love well made Soave Classico.
Ohhh you know your wines!!!
@@drmatthewhorkey 1 percent of what you know 😄
Fiano also one of my favourite white wine grapes
Me too!
Albariño of course, but the Godellos from Asturias are exciting too!😊
Yes and the cidre!
I have had some nice Rioja blanco made from Viura, and I do enjoy Greco di Tufo. Albariño is a pretty reliable crowd pleaser
All nice wines!
Italy is my #1 against any other wine country
😮🇮🇹
I’m a big fan of well produced godello.
Nice grape too and affordable
Fun tasting! In Spain I love albarino like Agraban and Pomares and LdH Rioja blanco. Getting more into godello, need to try Palacios. In Italy I also love Verdicchio and Soave, Pieropan La Rocca blew my mind at its price. Also just had my first Massa Derthona timorasso thanks to your recommendation and need to drink more! Oh and Vaudieu Clos Belvedere is some amazing amazing grenache blanc
Some good wines there!
I do think Spain is unparalleled value/quality for money when it comes to wine. Albariño is one of my all-time favorites, but I’ve tried and loved Viura, Godello, Verjedo, Txacoli, even Beba! I’ve also had still single varietal Xarel-lo and Perellada by Can Sumoi, which was excellent. A white Rioja was one of my first big “wow” wines, (tasted like grilled pineapple and coconut, remarkable.)
That being said, I have been getting more into Italian wines the past couple of years and especially trying to taste as many lesser-known grapes as possible. I used to think I didn’t like Etna Bianco, and then a bottle from Murgo changed my mind. Fiano and Lugana have been really exciting, absolutely anything from Friuli gets me pumped.
It must have been so hard for you to choose only 2 grapes from each country!
Never heard of Albilo before, will have to seek that out!
Wow you are well tasted!
@@drmatthewhorkey I am always trying to taste new things, which is one of the reasons I love your channel. You have taught me about new wines I hadn’t read about/didn’t know before.
For Spain I like Rioja Blanco and dry PX and for Italy Timorasso and dry Gewürztraminer from Südtirol and all of the whites from Sardegna. As for Etna they also have stunning Rosé.
I love Rioja Blanco too and I second you on Etna Rosé
Barrel aged viura….👍👍👍👍👍👍. Roero Arneis 😎😎😎😎. Unoaked Alvarinho. Zibibbo…. The list goes on and on….. nice video.
The list does go on and on!
I've had a lot more Spanish whites than Italian ones so not really fair to choose a favourite. I do like Sicilian whites, Grillo offers tremendous value, while Etna Bianco is a bit pricey but is wonderful when it's good. My favourite Spanish whites are Godello, Albariño and Verdejo, in that order. I really want to keep exploring other whites, I had a great Tempranillo blanco a few months ago, don't think I've had Garnacha Blanca yet.
Ohhh you’ll love Garnacha Blanca!
Sick of Riesling????! NEVER!
Me either!
Late to this but I just returned from a couple of weeks in my home in Andalusia. You can imagine I have something to say. It's very interesting because I really believe that both countries are producing amazing white wines and many of these are flying under the radar. Wine connoisseurship has been associated with red wine for so long and not that long ago white wine was believed to be a 'ladies' drink in some idiotic gender stereotype.
Anyway, here's the thing. Italy has a fantastic array of interesting whites. Spain's more limited whites are often the underappreciated wines of their famous red bedfellows like Rioja. There are some regions better known for their whites like Rueda, Rais Baixas and even Txakoli in Pais Vasco. Here's what's really interesting in Spain right now though. Wineries all over the country are producing wines you would never associate with Spain. I just had a superb bottle of Sommos Collection Chardonnay from the Somontano (well worth trying) and they are bottling other interesting stuff like Gewurztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc as well. It's the same with the reds where we are seeing Pinot Noir and Petit Verdot being bottled, especially in places like Andalusia where there is a commitment to really low intervention 'raw wine.'
So, everyone needs to try far more great white wines from both of these countries. WT
You hit the nail on the head with ALL of those points. I am very impressed with the new wave of exciting low intervention wines from throughout Spain!
@@drmatthewhorkey Thanks Matt. You're right in saying there is a really healthy movement taking place in Spain with regards to 'natural wine.' I've met some of these small scale but highly committed producers. They are absolutely adamant that wine was made in a natural way until very recently and they are determined to go back to those ways.
A week ago I was in a cracking restaurant in the village of Almedinilla and they had a small selection of local 'sierra' wines which were produced by a wonderful producer in the Montilla region. I went for the Petit Verdot for 15 euros and it was very good with my Iberico pork steak I can tell you. The owner of the restaurant came out to talk to me about my choice because hardly anybody chooses these wines and he has become a champion. He was nervous that I might not like it but so pleased when I approved and he gave me a discount when I bought a second to take away. He informed me that Petit Verdot is made for the Andalusian climate which takes far less time to make a good wine than France.
Spanish Viura and Tempranillo Blanco always hit the spot.
Siiiii
For me verdiccio in Italy and godello and in Spain are the best and most underrated
Verdicchio!!!
its interesting that the Fiano is called FAINO on the label..A before I, is that just the name of the particular wine, or is a a regional dialect of italian, or even a place?
Misprint?
I will have to ask her why she named it that
Found out that the grandfather of the grower called Fiano - FAINO
No need to go either or, great to enjoy both. The variety in Italy is a bit wider though imho
Agreed on all points here
Nice video, nice watch, what is it?
Nomos Zurich Worldtimer 5th Avenue Special Edition...
@@drmatthewhorkey gorgeous, always great taste.
🙏🙏
Please, when you reveal, do it in the same order you taste. That is 1,2,3,4 and don’t skip around. My brain saves the wine info in the order you taste.
First time I’ve got that request
@@drmatthewhorkey It just seems logical. I believe every other wine review channel reveals in the order the wines are tasted.
I’m the person that sources the bottles and then I have someone mix them up for me… With a small number of wines (like 4) if I taste one by one it doesn’t become a true blind tasting as it’s easier to know what the third and fourth bottle is…