Anyone who enjoys unearthing new and interesting wines as opposed to just drinking the stuff, especially new and interesting wines at reasonable prices, has long ago discovered the delights of Spain where the quality/reward factor is tilted very much in the consumer’s favor, and tradition and innovation walk hand in hand to deliver an every-expanding array of wines that really taste of the hot, dusty sunshine of the country from which they hail.

Unfortunately this wonderful Spanish makeover that has delivered so much wine-drinking pleasure over the last couple of decades has been largely confined to reds. I say largely because a few interesting whites do pop up now and again, especially from Rioja.

And then there are the albariños.

This grape is grown in Spain’s cool and damp north west where the climate is more Atlantic than Mediterranean. It’s a pretty, simple wine who’s appeal for me long ago faded as it’s price soared north of $20, so it was with delight and surprise that I came across this week’s Nick’s Wine of the Week, the Spanish Quarter Chardonnay-Albariño 2007 at a very reasonable $11.

Chardonnay is not normally a varietal that takes well to blending but here all is sweetness and light – the chardonnay brings elegance and polish while the albariño contributes its simple freshness and appealing floral qualities for a delightfully harmonious blend, and an eminently quaffable everyday white.