GODELLO is a fantastically seafood-friendly wine from Galicia in northwestern Spain. The grape is also grown in Portugal where it is known as Gouveio.
It isn’t quite a household name as yet, but with M&S and Majestic both listing decent examples, it is starting to become easier to find. You’ll also see it popping up on restaurant lists and I’d definitely recommend trying a glass or two with your starter of piri piri prawns or crispy calamari.
Order a bottle the next time you’re out – you’ll be ahead of the curve and your friends will be impressed.
I actually think Godello is starting to challenge Albarino for the top spot in terms of quality white wines from northern Spain. Albarino is from Rias Baixas (ri-a-thath bai-thath) in Galicia and is currently better known in the UK than Godello. That could all change in the coming months as we all go out and embrace new things from cool wine merchants and forward-thinking restaurants.
The best examples of Godello come from the sub-region of Valdeorras and they exhibit a wonderful richness on the palate with a mouth-watering minerality. The top examples of Godello remind me of my two favourite French regions – Burgundy and the Loire.
Imagine a luscious Maconnais with the gunflint minerality found in a top-quality Pouilly-Fumé and you’re starting to get a notion of how good these wines can really be.
Here are two that you can put on your table this weekend.
Castillo de Monterey Godello 2015 (M&S, £9.50). This tasty wee number is from the region of Monterrei and is an absolute bargain for under a tenner. M&S continues to feature new and exciting wines that are not the norm in other supermarkets.
Oluar do Sil Godello Pago de los Capellanes 2016 (Inverarity One to One, £15.99). This one comes from Valdeorras and is our current favourite. It comes sealed with a very trendy glass stopper which negates any possibility of cork taint. Try this with a hot seafood platter. Cheers!
Pete Stewart is Glasgow director of Inverarity One to One, 185a Bath Street www.inveraritymorton.com
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