Vinho Verde is located in the cool, rainy, and lush northwest corner of Portugal. Here, vines grow in fertile, granite-rich soils along rivers that flow from eastern mountains down to golden, Atlantic surfing beaches. The name translates to "green wine," which simply means these wines are meant to be enjoyed young, fresh, and vibrant.
Winemaking in this region comes with a brilliant visual history. To combat the cool, wet weather and free up the ground for other crops, farmers traditionally trained their vines high up on pergolas or even allowed them to climb up the trunks of trees. While you can still spot these charming, sky-high vines on tiny smallholdings today, modern estates now grow their grapes on low wires to catch the sun and perfectly ripen the fruit.
The region is most famous for its wonderfully crisp white wines, which often carry a signature, light prickle of fizz. The flavour of your bottle depends entirely on the local grapes inside: you might find the floral notes of Loureiro, the steely zip of Trajadura, or the bright, mineral character of Arinto. They are light-footed, incredibly refreshing, and the ultimate partner for fresh seafood or a sunny afternoon in the courtyard.
However, the true royalty of the region is the Alvarinho grape. Up in the warmer, drier northern towns of Melgaço and Monção, this grape produces richer, slightly more complex, and totally still white wines that are deeply rewarding.
Beyond the famous whites, the region also produces fantastic fully sparkling wines and a completely unique style of red Vinho Verde. Made primarily from the red-fleshed Vinhão grape, these reds are dark in colour, high in refreshing acidity, and low in alcohol—a brilliant, unconventional pour for the curious wine drinker.
