July 1, 2024
No wine is made for summer quite like Vinho Verde. The zippy white wine from northern Portugal pairs with picnic and poolside eats alike, whether grilled fish tacos, crunchy and bright salads, or grilled chicken. The wine is best enjoyed well chilled during walks on the beach, relaxing in Adirondack chairs, or better yet, while overlooking the Atlantic from one of Portugal’s rocky cliffsides.
Vinho Verde is a region in the northeastern tip of Portugal that borders the Spanish wine region of Galicia, which is known for similarly refreshing white wines. Vinho Verde DOC is within the Minho province of Portugal and is named not after its green-tinted wines, but after the lush and varied green landscape which makes up the province.
The region produces around 96 million liters of wine annually (about 128 million bottles) and is gets exported around the world. While Vinho Verde makes red, white, and rosé wines from 45 approved grape varieties, it’s best known for its refreshing, bracing white wines made from Alvarinho (also known as Albariño in Spain), Loureiro, Arinto, and lesser-known grapes like Trajadura. These are known as branco (or white) bottlings, but often just shortened to Vinho Verde.
Light and bright, Vinho Verde is marked by lemon-lime aromas, gooseberry and grapefruit flavors. Averaging around 11.5% ABV (alcohol by volume) it’s lower in alcohol than many alternatives, and it has a subtle, delightful effervescence.
One of Vinho Verde’s biggest boons is its affordability — you can easily find excellent bottles of Vinho Verde for less than $15. Here are nine of the best choices to try right now.
2023 Quinta da Raza ($13)
Cheap and cheerful, this wine is so fun in so many ways. It’s on the more sparkling side of fizzy with lots of bubbles that are active in the glass, with aromas of watermelon candy and flavors not unlike Fresca, the citrus soft drink. With an easy screw top closure, this wine is a no-brainer for summer gatherings.
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