The Vinho Verde region is diverse and versatile in wine styles and profiles, known for producing not only light and fresh wines, but also complex, structured and mineral wines.
Exclusively produced in the demarcated region of Vinho Verde in northwestern Portugal, it is only produced from the indigenous grape varieties of the region, preserving its typicity of aromas and flavors as unique in the world of wine.
Many of the varieties produced in the Vinho Verde Region are considered indigenous due to their long history in this region and the fact that they have emerged only in the Iberian Northwest. Perhaps these facts translate to a greater intensity in the specificity of Vinho Verde.
In the vast extension of northwestern Portugal, a blanket of lush vegetation extends over the rugged mountain peaks, covering the interior valleys as it advances to the sea.
From Melgaço to Vale de Cambra, from Esposende until the Basto granite mountains, at the border with Trás-os-Montes, the soils rise and fall. Cities and towns, here and there, interrupt the vegetation. It is from this land, densely populated and with fertile soils, that incomparable wines are born. From the classical Vinho Verde style with low alcohol content, young and fresh to the sophisticated Vinho Verde with great storage and ageing potential, complex, intense and with mineral aromas and flavors.
Climatic differences are significant throughout the Vinho Verde Region and this is reflected in its nine sub-regions, whose names come from rivers or cities: Monção and Melgaço, Lima, Cávado, Ave, Basto, Sousa, Baião, Paiva and Amarante. Local varieties also vary.
Alvarinho wines (produced from the full-bodied Alvarinho grape variety, with delicate aromatic notes) are a specialty in the Monção and Melgaço sub-region, in the northern part of the Vinho Verde Region. The rainfall here is lower and in the summer the temperatures are significantly higher than in the rest of the region. In this microclimate, the Alvarinho variety gives rise to a full-bodied dry wine, characterized by an intense color, with citrus reflections, intense, distinct and complex aroma, ranging from quince, apricot, peach, banana, lemon, passion fruit and lychee, orange blossom and violet, hazelnut, walnut and honey. Combined with a very attractive mineral character that contributes to the characteristic freshness.
The Alvarinho variety has great potential for aging and evolution in the bottle. Sometimes with nuances of fermentation and aging in barrels, always keeping a fresh side. With time, the variety acquires aromas of ripe orange, quince, hazelnut, walnut (almond character) and honey (caramelized character) notes.
South of Monção and Melgaço are the sub-regions Lima, Cávado and Ave. Here, the main variety is the delicious Loureiro, although Arinto and Trajadura are also frequently used. The wines in these sub-regions are usually fresh and aromatic, often with a citrus and flower scent. The mountainous sub-regions of Basto and Sousa also produce light wines from various grape varieties. In the sub-regions of Amarante and Baião, the Avesso grape variety produces dry and fresh white wines with rich aromas and a mineral character. Amarante and Paiva, the latter south of the Douro River, are well known for their red wines.
The Sparkling Wine of Vinho Verde Region maintains the tasting profile of Vinho Verde, being reinforced with the characteristics of aromatic freshness, associated with greater taste complexity. The consumption preference dictates the choice, from a Natural Brut Sparkling Wine to a Sweet Sparkling Wine, depending on the concentration of residual sugar, or between a “Reserva” to the “Grande Reserva”, according to the aging time in the bottle.
As Vinhos Verdes, with a young and fresh profile, is added more wines of an intense and structured character, of all colors (white, red and rose), the offer of wines from the Region increases with a palette of flavors ranging from elegant to complex. From different single variety Vinho Verdes, such as Alvarinho or Avesso, to Vinho Verde from different plots or terroirs, new or old vines, aged in barrels or old vintages, Vinho Verde easily pairs an entire menu.
For young Vinho Verde sub-style: light and fresh Vinho Verde wines pair perfectly with of light, fresh dishes with subtle spices: a summer salad with melon and shrimp, cream cheese crackers with salmon, sushi, etc. Distinct wines with an elegant body, for example single-vine wines from Arinto or Trajadura or structured rosés, perfectly pair fish and seafood. For spicy foods, like Asian cuisine, the Azal grape variety works wonders due to its super natural freshness that cleans and smooths the palate. The most intense and fragrant, for example, from the Avesso or Loureiro varieties, combine very well with dishes with aromatic ingredients and details of different spices, such as chicken breast with mushroom cream sauce or pumpkin risotto with roasted shrimp.
As for the most complex and structured wines, for example, the white wines of the Alvarinho variety, aged in wood, with a fresh structure and subtle use of wood, are at hand when it comes to pair aromatic and strong dishes, with fine roasted aromas and more intense flavors. The wines form a perfect harmony, for example, with lobster gratin, veal chops or quail baked with barley risotto. Red Vinhos Verdes are one of the strongest preferences among traditional restaurants, as they pair very well with regional cuisine, such as roasted sardines, rojões, arroz de lampreia or arroz de cabidela.
Vinho Verde – History and Innovation
Today the Vinho Verde region is one of the largest and oldest wine regions in the world. It is home to thousands of producers, generates a wealth of economic activity and jobs, and strongly contributes to the development of Minho and the country. Wines with the designation of origin Vinho Verde produced here are unique and valued in the world of wine.
The origin of the Vinho Verde name refers to the natural characteristics of the region, which produce dense green foliage, but which also contribute to the wine’s profile with freshness and lightness. It is this youthfulness that the wine is named after, in comparison to other more complex and weighty wines.
Recurrently awarded in national and international competitions, Vinho Verde today is certainly not the same as a decade ago, as a result of the investment of the Vinho Verde region in new vineyards, new planting systems, a new generation of winemakers and general professionalization of the industry. Year after year the producers of the Vinho Verde region surprise the markets with innovative and top quality wines.
Source: Vinho Verde – Like no other wine in the world
Photos by: © CVRVV – Comissão de Viticultura da Região dos Vinhos Verdes