Vinho Verde

Vinho Verde is the name of a Portuguese wine.

The green wine, so the literal translation (meaning but rather young wine), comes from the growing area between the rivers Douro and Minho in the north of the country and essentially comprises the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga and Porto. In this very humid region (annual fall up to 2000 mm of rainfall ), about 25 % of the Portuguese wine are produced. The legally defined already in 1908 DOC area for red and white wines, making it the largest growing region for quality wines. The nearly 60,000 hectares of vineyards are farmed by about 30,000 growers usually as a sideline.

As grape varieties used, among other Alvarinho, Avesso, Loureiro and Treixadura. Occasionally, the variety Sercial used. Most vines grow high pergolas as well two meters. This protects the vines from the moisture of the soil and from too much heat. Most grows under this umbrella of Rebblätter even vegetables.

  • Recommended white grape varieties: Alvarinho, Avesso, Azal Branco, Batoca, Loureiro, Pedernã and Trajadura
  • Other white grape varieties permitted: Branco Escola, Cainho de Moreira, Cascal, Douradinha, Esganinho, Esganoso de Castelo de Paiva, Esganoso de Lima, Fernão Pires, Lameiro, Rabigato, S. Mamede and Semilão
  • Rosé varieties: Espadeiro
  • Recommended red grape varieties: Azal Tinto, Borraçal, Brancelho, Espadeiro, Padeiro de Basto, Pedral, Rabo de Ovelha, Vinhão
  • Other authorized red varieties: Doçal, Doçal de Refóios, Espadeiro Mole, Labrusco, Mourisco, Pical Polhó, Sousão and Verdelho Tinto.

The green does not refer to the color - Vinho Verde is available in both red and white wine and rosé, though primarily the white Vinho Verde is exported - but to the present in the north of Portugal, Minho region, the greener due to the fresher weather landscapes than in the rest of the country. The wine has a light, sparkling character and moussiert easily. The natural carbon dioxide produced during malolactic fermentation of malic acid contained in the grape juice. There are relatively large differences in quality, as the vinification of this wine requires a lot of skill and experience. So the wine is highly sulfurized under unsanitary living conditions out of fear of bad fermentation. However, the sulfurization prevents the development of natural carbonic acid, so that it is artificially added. The wine is mostly vinified dry. Only export qualities of simple style have a little residual sugar to mitigate the strong acid.

In addition to the internationally distributed white Vinho Verde there are now more locally only, also red Vinho Verde. This is of extremely intense color and very tannic.

The wine is a very light wine with an alcohol content of 8.5 to 11.5 %. This also explains its growing popularity as a summer wine. Prices range from 4 to 8 euros per bottle (as of 2005). It should be noted that the Mateus Rosé Vinho Verde is not.

Brands

  • Casal Garcia
  • Gatão
  • Quinta de Aveleda
  • Quinta de Azevedo
  • Casa de Sezim
  • Gazela ( Sogrape )
  • Muralhas
  • Quinta da Lixa
  • Casa do Valle
Viana do Castelo District Braga District Porto District Varietal Loureira Arinto Mourisco Tinto
805840
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