Albariño Tasting Smack Down - Vibe Cellars VS Morgadio

Lucha Vino
Comparing Washington wines to the world. Weekly wine matches will pit Washington wines against challengers from around the globe. Challengers are selected based on proximity to UCI cycling races.

Monday, November 3, 2025
Washington Albariño v. Spain’s Rias Baixas Albariño
This year's Vuelta Espana traced a unique route from East to West primarily hugging Spain's Northern border before ultimately finishing in Madrid.  The racers followed a route similar to people following the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, just with more mountains and kilometers!
Stage 16 was a medium mountain stage tracing a route through the Rias Baixas region along the Western edge of Spain.  The stage was shortened due to protests at the finish area, with Egan Bernal crossing the ad-hoc finish line first to take the stage victory.
This Lucha Vino matchup brings the chaos with Vibe Cellars 2023 Albariño vs. 2023 Morgadio Albariño
Tale of the Tape

Vibe Cellars 2023 Albarino
Made with grapes sourced from the Four Feathers Vineyard in the Ancient Lakes of the Columbia Valley AVA.
Fermented and aged in stainless steel.
The 2024 vintage is available at the winery for $29.00
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2023 Morgadio Rias Baixas Albarino 

100% Albariño from vines of an average age of 40 years.
Vineyards are located in the sub region Condado do Tea.
Fermented and aged in stainless steel.
Purchased at Esquin for $24.99

Round 1. First Opening
This matchup features two lively and wily luchadores.  Both are showing abundant energy as they enter the ring!
Vibe Cellars is bringing the noise with a nose featuring light lemon zest, white flowers, and dusty mineral driven salinity.  The palate pumps up the volume with lightly salted lemon, pie crust, and a lively acid driven backbone.  
The Spanish challenger from Morgadio looks to be equally energetic with a nose showing notes of lemon, almond paste and a salty sea breeze.  The palate is doubling down with lemon and Marcona almonds riding a mean streak of acidity.
The luchador from Vibe Cellars is full of strength and agility, sweeping the legs and taking the challenger from Rias Baixas by surprise to win the first round. 

Round 2. One Hour After Opening
The Morgadio challenger is not taking any chances in round two flying into the ring off the top rope to combat the speed and agility of the opponent from Vibe Cellars.  The Morgadio Albariño is building strength with nose blasting notes of lemon, light apricot stone fruit, and salinity reminiscent of the breeze off the Atlantic Ocean. The palate is similar showing lemon, underripe apricot and light salinity backed up by zippy acidity with notes of green apple on the finish.
After the initial aerial onslaught, Vibe Cellars is recovering and fighting back with a combination of strength and speed.  The nose is stepping up to feature lemon, light green apple, and Asian pear with underlying notes of salinity.  The palate is along for the ride with lemon, tight stone fruits, saline, and zesty citrus acidity.
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The Washington state luchador from Vibe Cellars was rocked by Morgadio's flying entrance into the ring.
The Rias Baixas challenger's aggressive move off the top rope has evened the score at 1 round a piece.

Round 3. One Day After Opening
These luchadores are so evenly matched it is hard to predict the outcome of this match.  Let us move on to the action and see what happens!
Vibe Cellars is showing stamina and guile with a nose that continues to show character of lemon and mineral salinity joined by hints of brie and underripe stone fruits and Asian pear.  The palate doubles down on the lemon and salinity along with notes of tart peach and apricot followed with a stepped-up level of acidity from the first two rounds.
Morgadio has lost some of its strength, but is not backing down from the challenge.  The nose is more subtle with hints of lemon bar, honey, white peach tea and faint pie crust spices.  The palate hangs on with lemon peel, white peach stone fruits and subdued saline driven acidity.
Vibe cellars is showing greater stamina, befuddling the Morgadio luchador with a variety of moves featuring speed and strength.  
Round 3 and the match goes to the Vibe Cellars Washington state Albariño after an entertaining match featuring two excellent Albariño representatives.
Wrap Up and Overall Observations
Comparing white wines over a multi-day period is interesting as the wines warm up between first opening and an hour later and then return to the wine fridge before round 3 the next day.
Both of these Alberino’s would make a great companion to shell fish or other dishes from the sea.  The Morgadio Albariño was a classic example from Rias Baixas.
If you visit the Lake Chelan area, I would highly recommend making a stop at Vibe Cellars. 
Seek out the Morgadio at your favorite independent wine shop.
 
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