Barrete Vinho Verde 2023

£9.95 per bottle

ABV 10.5%

Tasting Notes
The label shows a robin with a "barrete" or cap, robins are native to the area and eat the berries off the vines. This is a blend of three grapes; Lourerio, Arinto and Fernao Pires, which are harvested slightly earlier to reduce potential alcohol. Fermentation takes place in steel to preserve the ripe fruit characters, creating a fresh and young Vinho Verde, which is incredibly fruit driven. Filled with citrus and floral notes, followed by a mineral character on the finish, with the authentic spritz of the Vinho Verde style.

Food
A zesty wine which is perfect with sushi, grilled fish or salads.

Region
Portugal`s northern Atlantic coastal region of Minho shares much in common with it`s northern Spanish neighbour, Galicia.The Minho is a verdant green coastal region, often shrouded in mist, where the grey granite soils support a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and various localised grape varieties. There are around 60,000 hectares of vines planted in Minho. Many of these are dedicated to Vinho Verde, the country`s largest DOC.

Producer
AB Valley Wines was formed in 2016 by renowned winemaker Antonio Sousa and Bernardo Lencastre. Their idea was to make wines which showcase the indiginous grape varieties of the region with the terroir of Vinhos Verde`s sub region of Amarante. The terroir is ideal for grape growing; Amarante is protected from the influence of the Atlantic and has a high average altitude, higher temperatures than the regional average and the hottest summers overall. These conditions favour the development of late-maturing varieties such as Azal and Avesso.