Vinho Verde
Vinho Verde is a beautiful wine region in the north of Portugal.
If you look at surface, it is one of the largest DOCs and produces exceptional wines. The name Vinho Verde means “green wine”. It cannot really be more appropriate because the region is very green. That is not what the Portuguese mean. The name should not be taken literally. They want to indicate that they are “green” young wines.
The wines
The wines from Vinho Verde are characterized by their freshness. That is why they can also be drunk the best young. Most wines are blends of various native grapes. Increasingly, cepages are made from the Alvarinho (Albarino), Loureiro or Trajadura.
In the vineyards
Traditionally, the vines were led along trees or along granite posts. In this way other crops could grow under the grapes. A much more important reason for this increased way of growing is that the wind can dry the grapes and that they are protected against rot in this way. Modern winegrowers still choose to raise the grapes but nowadays don’t do it in a traditional way. They choose to let it grow along wires in the vines in an effective way. The grapes get more sun and harvesting is therefore easier.