Albillo Criollo

Scarce native white variety from the Canary Islands.

The variety Albillo Criollo is a white grape indigenous to the Canary Islands that, according to DNA profiling, is not related to the family of Albillo varieties currently existing in the Iberian Peninsula. The genetic analysis has also determined that Albillo Criollo is a cross between the Canarian white variety Listán Blanco (aka Palomino Fino) and the Portuguese variety Verdelho.

The white variety Albillo Criollo produces compact, medium-sized grape bunches with elliptical berries of a green-yellow colour, with medium thick skin and a firm flesh. The variety, which ripens relatively early, is quite resistant to plagues and diseases.

A scarcely grown variety, Albillo Criollo is planted mainly in the islands of La Palma, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. It has an elegant aromatic profile, showcasing bone fruit, tropical fruit, citrus and flowers, with some saline and mineral notes. Because of its rarity and quality, it is typically vinified on its own.