Wine in Portugal - Vinho Verde
Vinhos verdes, lit. "green wines" refers to the age not the colour of these young, light, slightly sparkling wines produced mainly in the Minho region of northeast Portugal.
The wines are drunk early as most do not mature and improve with age. Vinhos verdes combine well with seafood especially shellfish.
There are both red and rosé varieties but white is the most common. Vinhos verdes de quinta are the highest quality, produced from a single winery.
The town of Penafiel is particularly well-known for its vinho verde with production having been begun by the Benedictines who also built some lovely churches in the area. The region of production is marked by an elevated granite plateau cut by several rivers. The weather here is cooler and wetter than much of the rest of Portugal.
Characteristics
Vinho verde is slightly fizzy with an alcohol content of about 8.5 to 11%. Often the fizziness is produced by adding carbon dioxide to the wine in production.
In color the wines range from lemon to a light straw color. Grape varieties include Arinto, Avesso, Azal, Loureiro, and Trajadura.
Vinho Alvarinho is another variety from the subregion of Monção and Melgaço. It is stronger with an alcohol content of around 11.5 to 14%.
The predominant red variety is Vinhão followed by Amaral and Borraçal.
Regions
The Vinho Verde DOC has nine subregions. These are Amarante, Ave, Baião, Basto, Cávado, Lima, Monção e Melgaço, Paiva, and Sousa. Vinho Verde is the biggest DOC (Denominação de Origem Controlada) in the country.
A Vinho Verde Wine Fest has been held on occasions at the Customs House (Alfândega Do Porto) in Porto.
Ordering Wine in Portugal
House wine is vinho da casa; table wine is vinho de mesa; rosé is vinho rosé; wine matured for more than one year is vinho madura; semi-sparkling young wine is vinho verde; a glass of red wine is um copo de vinho tinto; a glass of white wine is um copo de vinho branco; wine list is o lista dos vinhos.
Related wine links
A Wine Traveler's Guide to Portugal
