Qta de Azevedo - Vinho Verde
Lets chat a little bit about Vinho Verde, a region that produces some of my favourite wines.
This is one of the biggest DOC (if not the biggest) of Portugal. Its just by the Atlantic coast, NW of Portugal, benefiting from a cold breeze and saltiness that gives so much character to these wines. The grapes grow on fertile granite soils but its ripening isn't so easy. Many producers use the pergola vine training method on their vineyards as this helps not only with the ripening of the grapes, due to the high exposure of the fruit, but also helps preventing diseases by allowing air circulation in the vineyard.
Disclosure: Contrary to what many people think, Vinho Verde does not mean its grapes are unripe, it is not a grape varietal and it is not green coloured wine. Thank you!
Quinta de Azevedo is a favourite of mine, I have tried their wines many, many times and they never disappoint. The estate is dynamic and very advanced. It has been bought by Sogrape in the mid-80's, which enabled the winery to have the some of the most up-to-date machinery aiding with the production of very high quality white whites.
Fun fact: Qta de Azevedo cultures their own yeast which is very popular internationally.
But let's focus on what's interesting here, the wine!
Winemaker: Antonio Braga
Grapes: Loureiro (70%) Alvarinho (30%)
Winemaking process: The wine is gently stemmed and crushed before a short period of pre-fermentation that gives the wine a more aromatic profile. 40% of the wine was fermented in contact with its skins and after this process, it was matured in a stainless-steel tank with batonnage and stirring of the lees, for 3 months.
Aromas: Green apples, lemon peel, gooseberries, grapefruits, crunchy pears and a very light floral note, lime blossom perhaps. Obviously great acidity and a light prickly sensation on your tongue. There's no fizz in this wine, a characteristic of many wines of the region.
Food pairing: Good ol' fish and chip as it will cut right through that greasy fat; any seafood platter, spicy oriental dishes or just great by itself. All year around, don't wait 'till summer to try this beauty.
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