Vinho Verde: The Unsung Summer Hero
Elspeth Brown
Summer is my favorite time of the year. Most people rush to drink a crisp Sauvignon Blanc during hot weather, or serve a dry rosé at a garden party, but I think this is the year of Vinho Verde. I call it the perfect “porch sipping” wine.
Vinho Verde is a light Portuguese wine that is easy to drink and inexpensive, usually costing around $10 a bottle. It is low in alcohol, staying between nine and 11 percent, which makes a great afternoon drink. You can have a couple of glasses at lunch and still feel like you can get your work done afterwards.
Vinho Verde is grown in Minho, the northernmost province in Portugal. Literally translating as “green wine,” it can be red, white, or rose. It is a very young wine that should be consumed soon after bottling when it is at its freshest and fruit flavors will be the brightest. This is not a wine to put in the cellar; it will not age well.
It can also possess a slight effervesce. Originally the sparkling characteristic came from malolactic fermentation taking place in the bottle. In most wines, this would be considered a fault, in which case the bottle should be returned to where it was purchased. Producers found that consumers enjoyed this quality in the Vinho Verde, however, so it is now considered one of the main pleasures of the wine. Most producers today just add some artificial carbonation to the wine to achieve the characteristic effervescence.
The climate in Minho is extremely damp, which makes the malic acid unusually high and the grape sugars very low, giving the wines from this region low alcohol and a slight tartness. The soil is primarily granite, giving the wine a fresh, slightly tangy taste, with some minerality on the finish. The grapes aren’t given a chance to become super ripe so the sugar concentrations are lower, which a lot of consumers are looking for these days. Especially during the summer, I have diet conscious customers who ask which wines have the lowest number of calories. Wines with less alcohol will have fewer calories and will typically be lighter, which works when the weather is warmer.
The best varietals for the white Vinho Verde’s are Loureiro and Alvarinho, better known by its Spanish name, Albariño. The Vinhao and Azal Tinto grapes make better red wines. Vinho Verde is great as a sipping wine, but also pairs well with many different foods. The low level of acidity complements grilled seafood, salads, and spicy curries, and even helps cut the fattiness in rich, salty foods.
Summer is calling, so turn up the grill and enjoy it by sitting on the porch and toasting the warm days and nights with a glass of Vinho Verde!
Elspeth Brown is the owner of Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store, 10C S. Main Street in Weaverville. For more information, visit maggiebswine.com or call 828.645.1111.
