All That You Never Knew About Vinho Verde

Spring is here and we are back in the swing of wine trade tastings!

Over the next few weeks expect updates on California, Burgundy, Argentina, Chianti and Austria — just to name a few.

Today’s post is on Vinho Verde and a really interesting tasting and seminar we went to last week, hosted by our colleague, Evan Saviolidis.

Hands up all those who think Vinho Verde, is simple, quaffable wine that’s low alcohol is only matched by its equally low price?  Easy drinking and slightly effervescent, if you drink it at all it’s probably in a summer afternoon by the pool, or even blended into a white sangria.

Now hands up all those who have ever heard of Vinho Verde?

Chances are very good that you turn to Pinot Grigio or maybe a Sauvignon Blanc if you’re looking for a simple white, and that’s too bad.  As great as those two wines can be, Vinho Verde’s a tasty little number that’s food friendly, comes in a variety of styles and, because it’s less popular than the Sauv Blanc and Grigio behemoths, it can make you look like a trend setting superstar amongst your BFF’s, which is always a plus.

So let’s start with some really cool facts about Vinho Verde that will allow you to amaze and impress your friends at your next backyard BBQ.

Vinho Verde is the name for a style of wine — not a grape — coming from Portugal’s northern province of Minho.  Whites, reds and rosés are produced here from a blend of indigenous grapes to the region.

It can be a surprise that Vinho Verde isn’t just a white wine.  The name literally means “green wine” and because of that some mistakenly believe it’s named after the white wine that’s so water-pale it often takes on a green hue.

Really, the name refers to both the lush, green region from which it comes, as well as that it’s meant to be consumed young, “green” being a reference to the wine’s youth.

About 21,000 hectares in the Minho province are under vine, with 2,000 different wines produced each year.  About 85% of what is exported is white, and Canada is the fourth largest Vinho Verde export market after the US, Germany & France. (Don’t you feel smarter already)?

It’s true, basic white Vinho Verdes can be very simple and easy to drink, low alcohol and slightly effervescent with delicious flavours ranging from pear & grapefruit-citrus flavours to white flower and mineral notes.

The notable exception is from Monção the northernmost of Minho’s nine subregions.  The grape coming out of here is called Alvarinho, and though still under the Vinho Verde umbrella, it’s like the posher cousin to the clan, offering a bit more sophistication and elegance, and therefore earning its own pedigree.

Alvarinho goes by the name Albariño, just north of the border in Spain, and indeed the wines are lovely: rich and full of heady aromas of apricot, peach and white flowers, the taste is luxurious with ripe stone fruit, herbs and tropical notes, with high acidity keeps things fresh.

Wonderful when paired with grilled seafood, spicy curries, rich, salty proscuitto or even green salad with herb vinaigrette, these high acid, flavourful whites are dynamite with warm weather fare, and a fun sipper for picnics in the park or dockside dining.

Consider picking up these bottles next time you’re at the LCBO and let us know what you think:

Varanda Do Conde Alvarinho/Trajadura Vinho Verde 2010
Vintages 966663 $13.95

Quinta de Linhares Azal Branco Vinho Verde 2009
Vintages 218222 $14.95

Sogrape Gazela  Vinho Verde N/V
LCBO 141432 $8.98