albariño

noun

al·​ba·​ri·​ño
variants or Albariño
plural albariños or Albariños
: a richly flavored white wine from the Galicia region of Spain
Good albariño can be very serious wine, with enormous intensity of flavor and a subtle, layered mouth-feel framing its lively acidity.John Winthrop Haeger, Saveur, May 2006
also : the grape from which this wine is made
Grown on the rainy, green Galician coast, Albariño is Spain's breakout white grape. Richard Nalley, Food & Wine, September 2002

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Galician albariño "light-colored grape variety from which a white wine is made," derivative of albariño, diminutive or attenuating derivative of albar "white, bright white," probably going back to Vulgar Latin *albar- (in Latin albāris, albārius "of stucco or stuccowork"), from Latin albus "white" + -āris -ar

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of albariño was in 1972

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near albariño

Cite this Entry

“Albariño.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/albari%C3%B1o. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!