Vinho Verde is ready to surprise you
Everything about Vinho Verde wine is surprising to those who haven’t yet given into its charms. From the price (often less than $10, and sometimes even lower per bottle) to the light fizz that tickles the tongue (though it’s not a sparkling wine, per se) to its almost unmatched ability to refresh in even the hottest weather, great Vinho Verde is full of surprises.
What is Vinho Verde?
Vinho Verde is a wildly popular Portuguese wine produced in the northern part of the country, primarily from six Portuguese grapes: Alvarinho, Loureiro, Arinto, Avesso, Azal, and Trajadura. There are often “green” or slightly herbaceous flavors, but contrary to popular belief, the wine itself is not green in color.
Where does Vinho Verde come from?
Vinho Verde comes from the northern part of Portugal, in the Minho region, that stretches all the way north toward the border with Spain.
How is Vinho Verde made?
Vinho Verde is made by harvesting the grapes, pressing them, fermenting the juice, and bottling it generally right away. Some producers bottle the wines so soon after they’re done being fermented that there may be a tiny amount of fermentation that continues for a short period of time after the cork is inserted to seal the bottle. When that happens, a bit of carbon dioxide is produced, and since it has nowhere to go, it dissolves into the liquid, making the wine slightly spritzy on the tongue. Lately, however, some producers are trying to avoid this. It's all a matter of preference, and the best Vinho Verde style is the one you prefer most.
What are popular brands of Vinho Verde?
There are many popular brands of Vinho Verde. Whether you’re looking for the best Vinho Verde 2018, 2019, or any other vintage—though generally, with Vinho Verde, the younger vintages tend to be the best, since this is a wine that’s all about freshness—there are many popular brands to choose from. Some of the best are Casal Garcia Vinho Verde, Seaside Cellars Vinho Verde, Broadbent Vinho Verde Rosé, Twin Vines Vinho Verde, Gatao Wines, and Gazela. Some of the top brands also label them as Alvarinho wine, but unless the label says Vinho Verde, meaning the grapes have been grown in the region, then it’s not Vinho Verde. It's also worth looking for Vinho Verde rosé, which is an increasingly popular style.
What type of wine is Vinho Verde?
Vinho Verde is usually a white wine (though rosé is coming on strong), always Portuguese, and occasionally fizzy on the tongue.
Is Vinho Verde sweet?
Vinho Verde is generally a dry wine, but some of them have such ripe fruit that they give the distinct impressions of subtle sweetness. Those bottlings pair particularly well with spicy dishes and aromatic preparations, like certain foods from Thailand and India, for example.
Why is Vinho Verde called green wine?
In Minho, the region of Portugal where Vinho Verde is produced, there are several explanations you’ll hear. Some say that it’s because of the green or slightly herbaceous flavors that some of them have. Other producers will tell you it’s because the grapes are occasionally harvested on the early side. The most likely explanation is that green wine more accurately translates as “young wine,” meaning that it's released to the market without much aging at all in the winery.
Is Vinho Verde sparkling?
Vinho Verde often feels a bit fizzy when you take a sip, but it doesn’t have nearly the same amount of pressure from dissolved carbon dioxide as classically sparkling wines like Champagne and Prosecco do.
How do you serve Vinho Verde?
Vinho Verde is typically served very cold, and in Portugal, it’s not uncommon for it to be served in short glass tumblers, like the kind that many Americans use to drink their orange juice from in the morning. Some restaurants and cafes in Portugal also wrap the bottle in a frozen plastic band to keep it cool even in the hot Portuguese sun.
How do you pronounce Vinho Verde?
There are several accents found throughout Portugal, but in general, the wine is pronounced VEEN-yo vuhrd. Of course, if you ask for VEEN-yo VEHR-day that’s fine, too. We’ll know what you mean.
Browse our full selection of Vinho Verde online or check out our selection of highly-rated Vinho Verde for a great new Vinho Verde to try this week!
Want to learn more about Vinho Verde?
Visit our Guide to Vinho Verde to learn more about Vinho Verde.