By Simon Taylor, Stroud Wine Company
It’s Vinho Verde time again, it’s pretty much always vinho verde time, but there’s nothing like a little bit of sunshine to put you in the mood.
The Minho region at the northwest tip of Portugal borders the Atlantic Ocean, its cooler and has higher rainfall than most of the rest of the country, it is home to lush greenery, mountains and forests and it is the regions verdant scenery that gives it the name ‘green wine’.
The wines here are best known for their slight spritz, citrus and green apple flavours and are made from little known varieties such as Arinto, Azal and Trajadura. They are lower in alcohol at typically 11% and perfect for lunchtime! The wines from Quinta da Raza are bestsellers every year, they came to visit us at the end of last summer and we are always blown away by the quality, with all the zesty fruit and lip-smacking acidity, anytime we put their Vinho Verde in a tasting it’s a showstopper. They are made for seafood, salads and sunshine.
Their wines start at a very affordable £12 but further north the region is also home to some of the finest still and sparkling wines you will find anywhere in the world. Luis Cerdeira is regarded as one of the finest producers of Alvarinho in Vinho Verde and his wines are considered the benchmark for this variety. They first planted in 1974 and named their vineyard Soalheiro meaning ‘sunny’ referring to its exposure to the sun all day long.
The mountains of Melgaco at the most northerly point of Portugal create the ideal climate for the grapes to ripen, balancing the temperature, rainfall and long hours of sunshine. The wines of Soalheiro are bursting with sun-drenched tropical fruit and minerality. Unusually for Vinho Verde, they will age and improve for up to a decade.
He also produces Alvarinho Brut, a fully sparkling version that will make you question why you are buying Champagne for a celebration. In Portugal, sparkling wines are not just for special occasions, they are everyday wines to enjoy with food and with friends. This is a fascinating wine region and one we will keep returning to again and again. We will be holding three more Portuguese tastings this year so you can see what they are all about, otherwise just pop in and buy a bottle.
Click HERE to find out more about The Stroud Wine Company
VISIT OUR WITHEYS YARD SHOP
5 Witheys Yard,
55 High Street,
Stroud,
Gloucestershire
GL5 1AS
VISIT OUR GRIFFIN MILL SHOP
Unit 4,
Griffin Mill,
London Rd.
Stroud,
GL5 2AZ
