Alvarinho or Albariño is a variety of white wine grape grown in Northwest Portugal and Galicia where it is also used to make varietal white wines. In Portugal it is known as Alvarinho, and sometimes as Cainho Branco, Albariño is the Galician name for the grape.
It was presumably brought to Iberia by Cluny monks in the twelfth century but recent studies point to Alvarinho/albariño being native to Portugal/Galicia. Both the Portuguese "Alvarinho" and Galician name "Albariño", derive from "albus", meaning "white, whitish". It has locally been thought to be a Riesling clone originating from the Alsace region of France.
It should not be confused with the Alvarinho Lilás grape of Madeira.