Chicago Tribune Bill Daley column: White wines from Spain's Galicia region worth a pilgrimage (Chicago Tribune)

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Chicago Tribune Bill Daley column: White wines from Spain's Galicia region worth a pilgrimage (Chicago Tribune)

By Bill Daley, Chicago TribuneMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News

May 11--Q: There was a type of wine I enjoyed very much last summer in Galicia, Spain, but I can't seem to hunt it down here.

I was doing an old-fashioned walking pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela (I ain't holy, but in the words of Cab Calloway to Jake and Elwood in "The Blues Brothers," I "could use some churchin' up!") and the little cafes invariably would have this nice, light white table wine. Like a riesling but less fruit. Semi-dry but not sweet. Very, very refreshing. Washed down the octopus perfectly.

I've tried some Portuguese wines, vinho verde I think, that had a similar flavor but that were mildly carbonated. The ones in Galicia were all still wines.

Any idea on what category of white wine from that region of Spain it might be called? I can bird-dog it from there.

--Don Healy, Rock Island

A: Albarino seems the most likely candidate. It is crisp but has lovely, creamy fruit notes. The grape is also used in Portugal's vinho verdes, but there it's called alvarinho. But don't limit yourself to one varietal (I'm sure those cafes didn't).

Take some time to explore the different white wines produced in Galicia, one of Spain's finest wine regions.

Q: While in South Dakota, we went to the Prairie Berry Winery and bought some wines. I especially liked the one called Calamity Jane, which is fruity and sweet and made from Concord grapes.

Unfortunately I cannot find anyone in the Chicagoland area that sells this. Do you know of anyone or can you suggest an alternative?

One liquor store owner suggested Mogen David Concord. Help!

--Marina Young, Round Lake

A: Your best bet is to order directly from the winery. Their Web site says they ship to Illinois. Other than that, Mogen David may not be a bad alternative. It's a sweet red wine just like the Calamity Jane.

Also, consider red wines from other Midwest producers. A number of them make sweet or sweetish wines that would work for you.

Do you have a wine or spirit question for Bill Daley? Write to him at the Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, or e-mail wdaley@tribune.com. Questions cannot be answered individually.