Caíño Branco (kai-EEN-yo BRON-co), or “white Caíño,” is a white wine grape from Galicia.
What is Caíño Branco?
Caiño branco is a grape from the caíño family, which is considered to be native to southwestern Galicia and an ancestor of albariño. It’s used to make a few young, same-year monovarietal wines, but it’s mostly blended with other varieties. It blends well with other varieties like albariño, treixadura, loureira, torrontés or godello, and it takes well to barrel and bottle aging.
Caíño Branco Tech Sheet
- Color: Pale yellow
- Aromatic Intensity: High
- Aromas: stone fruit, apple, roses
- Acidity: High
- Alcohol: 13%+
- Body: Medium+
- Produced In: Rías Baixas, Ribeiro
- Synonyms: Cainho de Moreira (Vinho Verde)
What does Caíño Branco wine smell like?
Primary aromas can include stone fruit, apple, and flowers such as roses.
What does Caíño Branco wine taste like?
Wines made from caiño branco have high alcohol and high acidity. They tend to be structured and full-bodied with high aromatic intensity.
Where does caíño branco come from?
Caíño branco (white caíño) is indigenous to the area between Vinho Verde in northern Portugal and Galicia, and some theories suggest it might be the product of an 18th-century cross between caíño bravo and albariño. Caíño branco is recognized as a preferred variety in Rías Baixas, and is also present in Ribeiro. It’s mainly planted in the O Rosal subzone of Rías Baixas, and adds freshness and acidity to wines produced there.
Some technical details
Caíño Branco is medium or early-budding and its medium-late ripening time is close to that of albariño. Wines produced from caiño branco have a high alcohol content and retain high acidity (10.95 g / L) despite their late ripening.