A WINE grape variety has winemakers convinced of its suitability to local climates and tastes.
The white grape, albarino, hails from northwest Spain and is regarded by many within the Australian wine industry as the white variety of the future.
King Valley winemaker Sam Miranda, who is bottling an albarino under his Symphonia label, said the variety could even eclipse pinot grigio, as it had some similar characteristics but more flavour.
Mr Miranda said when grown in cooler climates, the albarino grapes were a "crisp fruit with natural acid" and made "a more zesty style of wine".
"It's got huge potential, where pinot grigio is (in the market) this can do the same thing," Mr Miranda said.
"It's not as obvious (as pinot grigio) but it's got more texture in the mouth . . . a similar flavour but there's more to it - it's quite exciting."
There were five wineries in the King Valley making the variety, Mr Miranda said.
One of those is Brown Brothers, whose chief executive Ross Brown said the company had begun working with the variety as it aimed for its plantings to be "five or 10 years ahead of the current market".
"Ten years ago pinot grigio (was emerging), now albarino can create interest down the track," Mr Brown said.
"It's got different cues - the richness and earth of a pinot, the elevated structure of a riesling, the aroma of a sauvignon blanc; so its broad-ranging taste sensations position it strongly."
Crittenden Wines winemaker Rollo Crittenden said he had planted close to half a hectare of the variety because he enjoyed the versions he had tasted from Spain.
"The wine holds together very well; it's got a nice mouth-filling structure, nice tannins, good aromatics," Mr Crittenden said.
