Is Portugal’s Vinho Verde your next favorite?

Portugal has delicious wines; many are hidden gems due to being overshadowed by larger European countries’ popularity. However, Portugal has been on the rise as a travel destination due to its affordability, rich history, beautiful landscapes, culture, and cuisine.   

Although Portugal is famous for its fortified wines Port and Madeira, this article will focus on the lovely Vinho Verde wine made from indigenous Portuguese grapes.

Vinho Verde means green wine, but these wines are lemon-colored or lightly golden. The name comes from the region’s lush green environment or, like Beaujolais Nouveau, Vinho Verde is meant to be consumed young, i.e., green.   

Vinho Verde is not a grape but a high-quality DOC wine region located directly on top of the less restrictive Minho VR region in Portugal’s far north. The Vinho Verde wine region borders Spain’s Rias Baixas wine region and is more lush, green, and cold than Portugal’s. The colder weather and granite-based soils make the Vinho Verde wines wonderfully fresh and edgy.

There are nine sub-regions of Vinho Verde. You may see them on labels as such, Vinho Verde – Paiva. The sub-regions are Amarante, Ave, Baião, Basto, Cávado, Lima, Monção e Melgaço, Paiva, and Sousa.

The most popular white Vinho Verde is made from blends of the Portuguese grape varieties, Alvarinho, Loureiro, and Trajadura. The Alvarinho grapes bring a tropical citrus aroma and nice acidity. Loureiro adds floral components, and Trajadura gives body, higher alcohol, citrus, stone fruit (peach family including nectarines, apricots), and apple notes. Just so you know, the Vinho Verde region also produces red, rosé, sparkling, Late Harvest, age-able Vinho Verde wines, and even Brandies (distilled wine).

Many Vinho Verdes are a little pétillant or fizzy, originally from a small amount of fermentation occurring in the bottle, thus trapping CO2. Nowadays, the fizz is created by adding CO2, while some higher-end Vinho Verdes has no fizz. Vinho Verde is a low-alcohol wine (8.5 – 11%) with high thirst-quenching acidity and attractive aromas and flavors. This wine will pair with light food, seafood, sushi, rich sauces, pork, and potato dishes.