Portuguese wine Vinho Verde
What could be nicer than ending a warm summer evening with a cool glass of wine. This is pure wine enjoyment! In the heat of summer, a light and sparkling wine tastes best. The Portuguese wine Vinho Verde is perfect for summer enjoyment. You drink it chilled. White Vinho Verde tastes particularly good as an aperitif, with salads or simply in between. We learned to appreciate it on our journey along the Rota do Peixe along the Alentejo coast. It goes perfectly with the light fish dishes that are found on the coasts of Portugal. Since then it has been pure wine enjoyment for us at home on hot summer days.
Vinho Verde is a light wine whose growing areas are in the northwest Portugal are located. He is refreshing and tingles pleasant on the palate. Vinho Verde is fruity in taste.
Vinho Verde is a young wine. You drink it right after fermentation. With an alcohol content between 8,5 to 12,5%, it is very light and is perfect for light dishes on hot summer days. The vinho verde owes its liveliness to the fact that it sparkles slightly. During the winemaking process, the malic acid contained in the grape juice is naturally converted into carbonic acid. Wherever Vinhos Verdes are produced industrially, carbonic acid is added artificially.
Where does Portuguese Vinho Verde wine grow?
Between the rivers Douro and Minho there is a wine region where it rains frequently. Up to 2000 mm of precipitation falls here every year. The districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga and Porto are very fertile and green. These landscapes gave the wine its name. Vinho Verde means nothing more than "green wine".
Wine region and grape varieties Portugal
Vinho Verde is grown in the Portugal wine region directly on the Atlantic. The vineyards are up to 700 meters above sea level. Grape varieties such as Alvarinho, Avesso, Loureiro and Treixadura are popular. Sometimes you can also find the Sercial grape variety. The winemakers grow the wines as a sideline. To do this, they let the vines grow as a pergola. Traditionally, vines climb up trellises, providing shade and moisture to the soil in which they thrive. In the past, the vines also climbed towards the sun on poplar trees. However, this is now seen less and less. Instead, winemakers are building the pergolas lower. This makes it easier to cultivate the wine mechanically.
In the past, winemakers only produced Vinho Verde for their own use. To do this, it was first fermented in open “lagares” made of stone. It was then placed in barrels where the acid was converted into carbonic acid. These wines are still served today in Portuguese bars and cafés.
However, part of the wine production goes today to wine cooperatives, where the wines are produced, which are destined for the foreign market. Some Quintas now also specialize in the production of high-quality varietal wines.
The Vinho Verde route in the northwest
The Vinho Verde route runs through the extreme northwest of Portugal. There you can find, for example, the small plots on which this wine grows. They extend across the entire Minho region to the Vouga River in the south. Winemakers invite you to taste the wine here. Of course you can also take one or two bottles home with you.
What do you drink the Portuguese wine Vinho Verde with?
Which foods go best with Vinho Verde? It's best to stick to what the Portuguese eat with it. In Portugal, this wine is often served with cold as well as warm starters. It also goes well with finger foods and appetizers, the petiscos. It also tastes particularly good with pasta, fish and light meat dishes. But it also goes well with desserts with fruit and chocolate.
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Source Portuguese wine Vinho Verde: own research. Our opinions always remain our own.
Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Do you 2,
but that sounds interesting. On our next trip to Portugal Sebastian will definitely like to try it :)
VG, Nina
Liebe Nina,
we can highly recommend him. A wine that tastes good in the heat of Portugal.
Best regards,
Monika
Hi
Actually, I'm not the white wine fan, but from what you write about the Vinho Verde, I should try it.
Portugal is still on the bucket list, so I have another plan.
Best regards,
Gina
Dear Gina,
usually white wine is not my cup of tea either. I'm more of a red wine drinker. But the Vinho Verde tastes good to me. Of course, wine is always a matter of taste. Everyone has to find out what suits him. We love Portugal as a destination. Since it is not enough that one tastes through the wines of the country. So we became fans of the Vinho Verde.
Best regards,
Monika
Dear Monika,
a very nice and informative report. Unfortunately, I have never been to Portugal and unfortunately - at least as far as I can remember - I did not drink any Vinho Verde yet. But it sounds like I should definitely make up for it. ;)
Many greetings
Kathi
Dear Kathi,
we can highly recommend both. Portugal is a very beautiful country, but thankfully, Vinho Verde is also available from us.
Best regards,
Monika
I think Vino Verde is perfect for a summer evening! He is often served with us, rightly so :)
Dear Nicole,
I can understand that well. We also like to drink it.
Best regards,
Monika
Dear Monika and dear Peter,
I was lucky enough to get to know the varieties from the region! They taste very light and fruity. Just nice with company and delicious light summer barbecue!
I have never been to Portugal but the pleasure is already there!
Best regards,
Alexandra.
Liebe Alexandra,
We have come to appreciate the Vinhos Verdes on our tour along the Rota do Peixe in Alentejo. They are perfect with the fish dishes that are available along the coast. Meanwhile, there are some bottles of it in our cellar, which we have stored for barbecues on our terrace.
Best regards,
Monika
Dear Monika,
We are real wine lovers, but really Portuguese wines have not really tried. Can one also order it online? We are always open for something new :)
Dear Saskia,
then you must definitely try the Vinho Verde. We do not like every wine, but it tastes excellent. He is also sold in stores. Of course, ordering online is also possible.
Best regards,
Monika
Dear Monika, dear Petar,
We have wanted to go to Portugal for a long time. Being a passionate wine drinker, the Vinho Verde route would be just right. Against a light wine in the summer to light delicacies speaks nothing against it. You can certainly buy the wine from here.
Best regards, Selda
Dear Selda,
Thank you very much for your nice comment. And yes, the wine is also available to buy here. You do not necessarily have to go to Portugal for that, although the wine experience is certainly even more intense there.
Best regards,
Monika
Dear Monika, Dear Petar,
I have not seen Portugal so much as a wine region so far. Interesting ... I do not even know the regions in the northwest. Where wine grows, there are certainly interesting landscapes.
LG Ricarda
Dear Ricarda,
You are right: Wine regions are always beautiful travel destinations. In Portugal, this is worth it. The Vinhos Verdes are very good and go well with the fish specialties of the country.
Best regards,
Monika