Buy Vinho Verde: fresh Alvarinho and Loureiro from northern Portugal
Vinho Verde is Portugal's northernmost wine region, known for wines of infectious freshness. White wine dominates, but more and more delicious, light-footed reds are being made.
Since 1999, The Portugal Collection has offered Vinho Verde from producers including Anselmo Mendes, Soalheiro, Niepoort and Luis Seabra, imported directly from the estates and delivered throughout Belgium.
Vinho Verde at a glance
| Location | Far north-west of Portugal (Minho), from the Spanish border to the Douro |
|---|---|
| Climate | Cool and Atlantic |
| Subregions | 9, each with its own grape varieties; the best known is Monção e Melgaço |
| White grapes | Alvarinho, Loureiro, Avesso and many others |
| Style | Fresh, lively and mineral; from taut and pure to full and deep |
| Ageing potential | Remarkably high: the best Alvarinhos can age for 20 years |
Freshness from the Atlantic
The engine behind the freshness and energy of these wines is the cool Atlantic climate. The region has 9 subregions, each with its own dominant grapes and character. Three stand out most.
Monção e Melgaço: Alvarinho country
First comes the Minho. This is where the Alvarinhos considered among Portugal's best white wines are made, in every guise: from taut, mineral and fresh to full and deep. They all come from two municipalities, Monção and Melgaço, more than 60 km inland. The ocean's influence is a little weaker there and the grapes are often riper than on the coast.
While elsewhere in the Vinho Verde vineyards are often planted with a mix of 10 or more varieties, the best plots in the north are reserved exclusively for Alvarinho. The vines grow at between 100 and 250 metres; on the steeper slopes they are planted on terraces.
Loureiro in the Lima valley, Avesso along the Douro
A little further south, in the Lima valley and closer to the ocean, the Loureiro grape gives very aromatic white wines. They are generally a good deal simpler than the Alvarinhos.
The third notable subregion lies on the banks of the Douro and forms the southern border. The upper Douro is a separate appellation with a hot climate, ideal for port, but at the river mouth the climate is clearly Atlantic. Here Avesso produces very fresh white Vinho Verde full of character.
Surprisingly long-lived
What all Vinho Verde wines share is a remarkably high ageing potential. Even simple wines stay fresh in bottle for years, because they start out with good acidity. The best Alvarinhos easily handle 20 years in the cellar. It is worth 'forgetting' a few bottles of each new vintage.
From pétillant to Pét-Nat
For a long time Vinho Verde was synonymous with lightly sparkling wine. After summer, the hilly north cooled down quickly, so fermentation often stopped before all the sugar had turned into alcohol. When the wine reached the market in spring, fermentation had restarted in the warmer weather, and the resulting CO2 gave light bubbles.
Since bubbles are not only pleasant but also mask flaws, in the 20th century producers began imitating that natural process by adding CO2 to simple Vinho Verde. That is why many wine lovers still associate Vinho Verde with simple, lightly sparkling wine.
Today all the top wines are made in temperature-controlled cellars where fermentation is completed, leaving no residual sugar and no CO2 in the bottle. At the same time, sparkling wine is making a comeback, but of the natural kind. Producers such as Dirk Niepoort appreciate the charm of a white wine with fine acidity and a light sparkle, very much in line with what natural winemakers call Pét-Nat (pétillant naturel). History repeats itself.
Vines like washing lines
A typical sight in the region is vines trained on pergolas. Many back gardens still have these 'washing-line constructions', with vines trained up to almost 2 metres above the ground. It was a way to make the most of the land: you could still grow cabbages and potatoes underneath. For today's quality wines, the vines are trained differently and pruned far more strictly, to reach the necessary concentration with low yields.
Our Vinho Verde producers
Anselmo Mendes
From Muros Antigos (Vinho Verde, Loureiro and Alvarinho) to Muros de Melgaço, Alvarinho Contacto and Parcela Única, also in magnum and double magnum.
About Anselmo Mendes · Muros Antigos · Parcela Única
Soalheiro
Alvarinho from Melgaço, from Allo and the classic Alvarinho to Granit, Primeiras Vinhas, Terramatter and sparkling.
All Soalheiro wines
Niepoort
Dócil, a light and fresh Vinho Verde.
Niepoort Dócil
Luis Seabra
Granito Cru Alvarinho.
All Luis Seabra wines
More Vinho Verde
Also 3 Rios, Pássaros, Pardusco, Loureiro do Tiago, Alvarinho do Gonçalo and Drink Me from the Nat' Cool series.
View Nat' Cool
View all Vinho Verde in the webshop
Delivery and collection
We deliver throughout Belgium. Shipping costs €15.73 (incl. VAT) and is free from €175. Prefer to collect? You can pick up your order at our shop in Roeselare, Kaaistraat 62A. More about delivery
Frequently asked questions about Vinho Verde
Where can you buy good Vinho Verde in Belgium?
Since 1999, The Portugal Collection has specialised in Portuguese wine and imports Vinho Verde directly from producers such as Anselmo Mendes, Soalheiro and Niepoort. Order online with delivery throughout Belgium, or collect in Roeselare.
Is Vinho Verde always lightly sparkling?
No. Simple Vinho Verde often has a little added CO2, but the top wines are fully fermented and still. There are also naturally sparkling wines in the Pét-Nat style.
What is the difference between Alvarinho and Loureiro?
Alvarinho comes mainly from Monção and Melgaço, inland in the north, and gives the most complex wines, from taut and mineral to full-bodied. Loureiro grows closer to the ocean, mainly in the Lima valley, and gives very aromatic, usually simpler wines.
Can you age Vinho Verde?
Yes. Thanks to their good acidity, even simple Vinho Verdes stay fresh for years, and the best Alvarinhos can age for up to 20 years.
Discover our other Portuguese wine regions too: Douro, Dão, Bairrada, Alentejo, Lisboa and Porto.