Alvarinho Contacto 2025
Region: Vinho Verde
Producer: Anselmo Mendes
Melgaço has always been recognised as one of the best places to produce Alvarinho, but very few quality estates were still active.
Anselmo played an important role in the rebirth of the region and is now recognised as one of Portugal's leading white wine producers.
The Alvarinho grape variety plays the main role here, but Anselmo also values other local varieties such as Loureiro, Avesso and Vinhão. Its wines are distinguished by their freshness and minerality. The granitic soils, the proximity of the ocean and its location in the north of Portugal play a decisive role.
The wine is complex with a vegetal, mineral character with a hint of bitterness typical of Alvarinho.
| Volume | 75.0 cl. |
| Grape Variety | alvarinho |
| Drinking window | 2026-2029 |
| Alc. | 12.5% |
| Vinification | Skin maceration of the destemmed berries for 12 hours, clarification at room temperature, fermentation around 14 to 22°c |
| Ripening | Aged for a minimum of four months on the lees in stainless steel. |
Waar serveer je ’m bij?
Contacto stands for the skin contact: the grapes steep briefly on their skins before fermentation, and that is exactly where the firmer structure of this wine comes from. On top of that the grapes come from more clayey soils than those of its little brother Muros Antigos, which makes the wine broader and sets the acidity a little lower. The result is an Alvarinho with grip in the mouth, without oak: fruit, texture and a dry, slightly bitter finish that asks for fat.
Thai chicken curry with coconut and lime leaf
Croquetas de jamón
Serveren op 9–11 °C
Drink: 2026–2030
“The 2025 Contacto Alvarinho is part of a joint venture with the Symington family. This is named after the contact with the skins, which is quite short anyway—and not for all the volume—but seems to add some oomph in lighter vintages. It fermented and matured in stainless still with neutral yeasts and was bottled after three months with the lees. It's pale, young and primary. It comes in at 12.5% alcohol, with a pH of 3.05 and 6.7 grams of acidity and some lightness. 360,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2026.”
We were there when Anselmo launched his first wines under his own name and we are still following him. Meanwhile, he grew to become 'mister Alvarinho'.
More about Anselmo Mendes →