Wine Wednesday: Vinho Verde

Poolside wine from Portugal

but you can drink it even if you don’t have a pool

I went to my first Vinho Verde wine tasting recently.  I didn’t really know what to expect from these wines which come from the Northwest part of Portugal. The name translates to “green wine” although the wine I’m happy to report, is not green; it’s the area where it originates that is green and there’s green fruit notes on the nose.

These reps and wine makers traveled to Vancouver from Portugal to showcase their distinctive wines that are made primarily from six Portuguese grapes of which the vast majority are white. Their names are Alvarinho, Arinto, Azal, Avesso, Loureiro and Trajudura (see below for their individual descriptions).  Vinho Verde wines range slightly in style, but most are a touch fizzy and mostly dry.

The wines are easy drinking, fresh tasting with a higher acidity and lower alcohol content than what we’re normally used to. The wines are usually not allowed to mature as they’re commonly consumed soon after bottling.  Now I can see why!

The mostly all white, sparkling and some rare rosé wines are great to pair with most food but especially summer dishes.

• Azal: This is the highest-acid grape of them all. Lemonade flavors abound!
• Arinto: Also called “Pederna,” it is arguably Portugal’s finest white grape. Expect juicy melon and citrus with some bitter notes on the finish. Great examples can age 7+ years!
• Alvarinho: The same grape as Spain’s Albariño and produces wines with grapefruit and floral notes. This is another serious grape to watch.
• Avesso: Similar to Alvarinho in its flavors of grapefruit and peach, but with a subtle green almond bitter note there is added complexity.
• Loureiro: If there were such a thing as “The Riesling of Portugal” this would be it. Look up winemaker Anselmo Mendes for shocking single-varietal wines from the coastal regions.
• Trajadura: This grape is a popular blender with Alvarinho. It adds richness and aromas of pear and citrus blossom.

Photos (including header): d. king

Illustration + Grape Descriptions taken from winefolly.com

Have you tried it?  If so; do you have a favorite?