Local Wines
The Vinho Verde region is located in the Northwest of Portugal, limited by the river Minho to the north and the Douro to the south, the Atlantic coast to the west and mountainous ranges to the east.
Most of the region lays on a granitic structure, with the exception of two narrow strips that cross it from NW-SE, one of silurian with carboniferous and gravestone structures and another one of archaic schist. The strong distinctive character and originality of these wines are the result of soil and climate characteristics and social-economic agents, on one hand, and of the grape varieties and the vine-growing methods (specially the peculiar pergolas trellis systems), on the other. The region produces mainly white wines of characteristic lemony or straw colour, fruity and fresh broadly named Vinhos Verdes or green wines, a reference to the early stages the grapes are picked. The most sought after vinhos derive from the albarinho grape (albariño across the border in Spain). Other whites include Galician-Portuguese varieties such as loureiro, treixadura or locals arinto and avesso. The reds, of less importance, (from vinhão, espadeiro) are full-bodied wines with an intense colour and a rosy or light red foam.
These wines which are aptly named Vinho Verde (Green Wine) as they are picked early and drunk very young. The Portuguese home market consumes more red than white Vinho Verde, whilst the white is exported. It is mainly yellow in colour but some have a suggestion of slight green. They classify as a semi-sparkling wine and have a slightly biting or prickling quality and a refreshing twang. The vines are kept clear of the ground by being draped on trees or specially constructed trellises. This serves a double purpose, firstly by freeing the land beneath for cultivation, and secondly, protecting the vine against damp and parasitic rot. These wines have a lower alcohol content. The appellation region of Vinho Verde is from south of Porto up to the Spanish boarder.
About 11% of production is exported, almost all white wine. The main export markets are France, the USA and Germany, followed by Angola, Canada and the UK.[1]
The region is characterised by many small growers. They used to send their grapes to 21 cooperative wineries, but more are now making wine themselves.
The Vinhos Verdes wines are light, fresh, and intended for drinking within a year. At less than 1 bar of CO2 pressure they do not quite qualify as semi-sparkling wines but do have a definite pétillance.
The white Vinho Verde is very fresh, due its fantastic natural acidity, with fruity and floral aromas, depending of the grape variety.
The white wines are lemon- or straw-coloured, around 9-11% alcohol, and are made from local grape varieties Loureiro, Arinto, Trajadura, Avesso and Azal. Vinho Alvarinho is made from Alvarinho grapes, from a small designated sub-region of Monção. It has more alcohol (11.5 to 14%) and ripe tropical aromas.
There are two grape varieties :
Alvarinho
High quality white grape variety recommended for the sub-region of Monção, as a pure grape variety for the production of wines with the Alvarinho Denomination of Origin. Productive and rustic, it produces wines with a strong grape variety aroma, well balanced and flavourous. As those are the region's wines with the highest alcohol content, they have a specific regulation.Trajadura
High quality white grape variety, recommended for almost the entire Demarcated Region, except for the Basto and Amarante sub-regions and the Baião, Cinfães and Resende areas. With a culture area in great expansion it came originally from the Monção sub-region. Productive, this grape variety produces wines with a delicate and distinctive aroma, flavourous, but so
.
