Vinho Verde. This is not only a wine, but also the name of the region from which it comes. It extends in northwestern Portugal between the Douro and Minho rivers. The region is very green, hence the name of the wine (Portuguese for "green wine"). In the flat valleys near the rivers, grapes are grown for cheap mass production, while on the rather inhospitable slopes, exciting low-yielding grapes grow, which are grown for the production of high-quality wines.
In the past, the region was hardly noticed, and if you knew it, you associated it with light white wines that reminded you more of a spritzer, containing very little alcohol, but plenty of carbonation (like a lemonade), and no finish. Vinho Verde was classified as student wines and put in the same category as, for example, retsina.
The Minho River – border river to Spain
The demand for Portuguese wines is currently quite high. This is partly because these wines currently offer the best value for money in Europe. However, this trend is also largely due to the tireless work of some visionary winemakers who focus on quality instead of quantity. They deserve the credit for the quiet transformation of the region, and we consider ourselves fortunate to work with three representatives of this group: João Cabral Almeida, Pedro Araújo from Quinta do Ameal, and the Cerdeira family from Quinta do Soalheiro.
These wineries are located far from the fertile valley of the Lima and Minho rivers, where large quantities of uninteresting grapes are harvested to fill the aforementioned supermarket shelves.
The yields of these quality wineries are much lower than those of their large competitors, but the wine is more concentrated and expressive of its terroir.
In Vinho Verde, white wines are clearly the stars. The red wines of the region are hardly interesting so far and are intended more for personal consumption. Since they contain a lot of rustic tannins, they pair well with typical local dishes such as lamprey in red wine sauce.
The white wines are usually aged without oak, have a low alcohol content (around 11 to 12% ABV), and delight with plenty of freshness and minerality.
The best vines for the white wines are Alvarinho from Monção and Melgaço, and Loureiro from the Lima region. These wines have a great aging potential of around 10 years and develop like good Rieslings.
Property of Quinta do Ameal
João Cabral Almeida is a talented winemaker and oenologist, but he does not own any land. Such winemakers are also called garage winemakers, as they can make their wines anywhere, including garages. We have been sourcing Camaleão from him for a long time now, a cuvée of 70% Loureiro and 30% Alvarinho. The 2016 vintage was rated 92 by Parker!
From Pedro Araújo of Quinta do Ameal, we source a Vinho Verde made from 100% Loureiro. His 2016 vintage was also awarded 92 points by Parker.
Luis Cerdeira from Quinta do Soalheiro
And of course, a Vinho Verde made from 100% Alvarinho cannot be missing! We source it from Quinta do Soalheiro. It received the same score: 92 points.
These three wines are a reflection of the region and a wonderful example of what good Vinhos Verdes can be. They are wonderful as an aperitif, pair excellently with fish dishes, and are the ideal accompaniment to asparagus.
Here is our selection of Vinho Verde, wines from Portugal.
