Aragonez, also known as Tinta Roriz in northern Portugal, is a red varietal that is the Portuguese equivalent to the Spanish Tempranillo.
Arragonez is a key varietal used in the making of Port wine as well as many Alentejo wines. With its thick, dark-skinned berries, it typically produces well-structured fruity wines with softer tannins and lower acidity.
Portugal is located on the southwestern edge of the Iberian Peninsula and is the western-most point of Continental Europe. It’s as close as Europe gets to the U.S. without crossing an ocean!
Portugal is the California of Europe™, sharing many similarities with the Golden State. Both California and Portugal are located at the southwestern tips of their respective continents, virtually at the same latitude. Both hug a long and pristine ocean coast, and both feature a mostly-sunny climate. Both are ideal wine-producing regions.
BUT Portugal is also different. It is an old-world wine country and its grape varietals, growing methods and production traditions have been perfected over many centuries. The country’s numerous unique-in-the-world grape variaties contribute to robust traditional taste with an exotic twist.
The Demarcated Area (DOC) of Vinho Verde
Prominent Varietals: Alvarinho, Loureiro
This most north-western region of Portugal is home to the world-famous Vinho Verde, or “green” wine. It’s called green wine not because of its color, but due to the fact that it is consumed while the wine is still young, preferably within a year or two after its release.
Because of their freshness, vinho verde wines are a perfect refreshing choice for hot summer days. They are also an excellent accompaniment for seafood and spicy dishes, or served alone as aperitif. It is best to serve vinho verde well chilled, but not too cold as the nose will diminish significantly.
Vinho Verde is unique to this region and is not produced anywhere else in the world. It typically has medium alcohol content and a distinct taste. It also features excellent digestive properties. Red Vinho Verdes are often full-bodied with intense colors while whites usually show a lemony or straw color.
The terrain is quite irregular featuring steep hills and serpentine valleys which abound in granite-rich soil. Vineyards are often grown on hillside manmade terraces.
Portuguese wine classifications can be daunting – for such a small country (only 10 million people), there are more than 25 controlled regions and over 200 wine varieties unique to Portugal!
There are four levels of classification for Portuguese wines:
Table Wines (Vinho de Mesa) are those wines which are not certified as to origin or vintage. They can include a diverse collection of grapes grown in many different regions.
Regional Wines (Vinho Regional) are certified as to the origin of the grapes. There are 11 wine regions in Portugal, and each wine region is controlled by a Regional Winegrowing Commission (Comissão de Viticultura da Região or C.V.R.) that inspects and certifies the grapes’ source and quality. A numbered CVR stamp of certification should be visible on the back label of any certified Regional Wine.
Provincial Wines (Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada or IPR) are a step up from Regional Wines. This certification is often considered as merely a step toward Demarcated Wines classification.
Demarcated Wines (Denominação de Origem Controlada or DOC) have the highest wine certification in Portugal. DOC zones are more specific and strict as to the origin of the grapes. Certification is quite stringent and indicates the highest quality of wine. DOC roughly corresponds to the French Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC), the Italian Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC), and the Spanish Denominación de Origen (DO) classifications.
2010 Quinta da Aveleda
Each month the Publisher and Executive Editor of The Tasting Panel, Meredith May, selects her favorite wines of the month. And what better wine to grace the magazine’s glossy pages in the July 2011 issue than Aveleda’s Quinta da Aveleda? Meredith praises the guava and kiwi flavors found in this stunning vinho verde and awards Aveleda’s 89 points for their refreshing wine! Qunita da Aveleda’s bright acidity makes it the perfect compliment for spicy grilled foods, so be sure to grab a bottle to try for you next summertime barbecue.
