{"title":"Constantino Ramos | Vinho Verde","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"float: none;\" alt=\"Vineyards of Vinho Verde's Monção e Melaço Sub-Region\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/Vinho_Verde_Vineyards.jpg?v=1714635671\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWinemaker, Constantino Ramos is a rising star in Vinho Verde’s Monção e Melgaço sub-region. Having spent nine years working for one of the region’s most respected names (Anselmo Mendes) in January 2022 he decided to concentrate full-time on the project he started in his wife’s cousin’s garage in 2016. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is hard to believe now but, until the 1970s, Portugal's Vinho Verde wine region predominantly produced rather rustic red wines.  Leading producers have only recently explored the quality potential of red wines, starting with Vinhão.  Constantino, a history nut, has pushed the envelope, focusing on elevated, old field blend vineyards rising to 400m, planted to Alvarelhão (a.k.a. Brancelho), Borraçal (Galicia’s (Caíño), Pedral, Espadeiro and Vinhão.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConstantino's quest is to highlight the potential of Monção’s light red wines which, he says, were exported to England and Flanders back in the XIV century as an alternative to Burgundy.  In addition to seeking out old field blend parcels, the lover of fresh, high acidity, light, low alcohol wines has planted new vineyards to these traditional red varieties.  Constantino has also planted his sub-region’s star variety, Alvarinho and makes a stunning early-harvested Alvarinho, Afluente, with a mineral, austere profile. The minimal interventionist cultivates his parcels without herbicides or pesticides.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"constantino-ramos-zafirah","title":"Constantino Ramos Zafirah 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003eConstantino Ramos' Zafirah is a juicy red wine made predominantly from the Alvarelhão grape, alongside Borraçal, Pedral, Espadeiro and Vinhão varieties. Following a rigorous selection from four small, trellised vineyards, the grapes were hand-harvested in perfect condition, destemmed and pressed after a 24 hour cold soak to be vinified like a white wine. The juice (with no skins) was naturally fermented in a mix of stainless steel (2\/3) and used French oak barrels (1\/3). The wine was blended after six months ageing and bottled un-fined. Light to mid bright raspberry colour. Inviting, lively dark-red-fruit aroma, just slightly peppery. Really juicy and pure-fruited with intensity even though it is so light in alcohol and body. High-acid yet the fruit holds its own. Pure and utterly irresistible. (Julia Harding, 17 points, Jancis.Robinson.com). [#intro]Light in alcohol \u0026amp; body yet really juicy, pure-fruited \u0026amp; utterly irresistible...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Constantino Ramos","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41373410689091,"sku":"A22CONSTANTINOZAFIRAH-1","price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/ZafirahBt.jpg?v=1714637707"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/collections\/Constantino_Ramos_Winemaker.jpg?v=1714635917","url":"https:\/\/hic.wine\/collections\/constantino-ramos-vinho-verde.oembed","provider":"Hic!","version":"1.0","type":"link"}