Lead by our host Cindy Rynning of Grape Experiences, this month the Wine Pairing Weekend bloggers are exploring the Portuguese wine region of Vinho Verde (pronounced vee-nyo-vaird).

About Vinho Verde

Vinho Verde is located in the cooly, rainy northwestern province of Minho. Its climate, affected by mountain ranges, valley and rivers, along with its mostly granite soils account for the exhilarating freshness and minerality of the wines.

There is a common misconception that Vinho Verde (meaning green wine) refers to the color of the wine or the idea that the wine should be consumed young. In fact, the white wines are generally a pale straw color, and some can age beautifully. Reds and rosés are also produced. But the name for Vinho Verde comes from the region’s environment, which is lush and green according to Wine Enthusiast (source). Vinho Verde white wines are usually bottled with an subtle effervescence which is sometimes naturally occurring if fermentation is completed in the bottle, but more often than not carbon dioxide (CO₂) is added during bottling. These days you’ll find many producers are choosing make their wines with no carbonation.  

I was fascinated with the region’s compelling history, wines that reflected tradition and modernity, authentic cuisine and thought-provoking cultural landmarks.

Cindy Rynning

With about 51,000 acres of vines, 45 indigenous grape varieties, 18,000 winegrowers, 93 million liters produced per year and 100 export markets, Vinho Verde offers a range of palate-pleasing choices according to Cindy. Most Vinho Verde wines are blends, but there are a growing number of producers experimenting with varietal offerings.

Vinho Verde By The Numbers:

• Vinho Verde was first demarcated as a wine region in 1908 and became was officially granted DOC status in 1984.
• It is the largest DOC in Portugal at 34,000 hectares (~84,000 acres)
• Within the DOC there are 9 sub-regions, Amarante, Ave, Baião, Basto, Cávado, Lima, Monção & Melgaço, Paiva and Sousa.
• There are 6 major white wine grape varieties; Azal, Arinto (arguably Portugal’s finest white grape), Alvarinho,(a.k.a Albariño)  Avesso, Loureiro, and Trajadura.
• There are 3 major red wine grape varieties; Espadeiro, Padeiro, and Vinhão
• 87% of wines produced in Vinho Verde are Branco (White), 8% are Rosado (Rosé), and 5% are Tinto (Red)
• Want to know how to pronounce the grape varieties? Click here.

In My Glass And On My Plate

Do you know what the difference between a wino and a foodies is?

Winos pick which wine they are going to drink first, then decide what food to pair with it. Foodies, select what they are going to eat first, then decide which wine to pair with it (half-kidding!) Well, 90% of the time I’m a wino, but, I went full foodie on this one!

Why? I was craving pizza and saw a “Summer Pizza” with purple & green okra, yellow corn, torpedo onions, calabrian chilis & pecorino on the website of a new local wood-fired pizzeria.

Instinctively, I blinked to make sure I saw what I thought I saw. Pizza with not one, but two kinds of okra? Unconsciously I muttered to myself “Wait, what?

Rest assured, the cells in my brain that contain information about pizza has never communicated with the cells in my brain familiar with okra (not a fan by the way). I felt uneasy. Cognitive dissonance was getting comfortable.

I decided to lean in. I ordered the Summer Pizza and a Lacinato Kale & Fennel Salad with brined almonds, bulgur, nutritional yeast & bagna cauda. I had a bottle of 2017 Maria Papoila Vinho Verde in my fridge. Viola!

It’s a blend of Loureiro and Alvarinho. After the fermentation process at controlled temperatures, the wine is raised in stainless steel for 9 months prior to bottling.

Tasting Note: The wine is a pale straw-yellow color with lifted green apple, stone fruit, citrus, lime blossom, and flint aromas. On the palate, it’s dry and medium-bodied with the mouth-watering, zesty acidity one would expect from a Vinho Verde. This still wine shows, baked green apple, quince, firm nectarine and lemon zest flavors with nicely accented with a flinty minerality and a very satisfying finish. 11.5% abv| SRP – $13

The pizza was amazingly delectable. The corn made it a bit sweet and the calabrian chiles give it a hint of heat. I have a feeling we’ll be ordering this one again and again! How was the pairing? It was “good” meaning there was peaceful coexistence between the wine and the pizza. The wine’s crisp, zesty acidity and flavor profile was a good match for the pizza, but I didn’t feel like the wine made the pizza taste better or vice-versa.

I’m thinking of a Lambrusco for the next time I try the pizza, and about sushi, sashimi, fish tacos, or cracked crab for the next time I grab a bottle of the very charming Maria Papoila Vinho Verde.

Be sure to check out my colleagues Vinho Verde and food experiences!

Camilla at Culinary Adventures with Cam shares Foods from Around the World Paired with Pink Wines from Portugal 

Liz Barret of What’s In That Bottle? is thrilled with Va Va Va Vinho Verde: the Portuguese White That Wows 

Robin of Crushed Grape Chronicles answers What is Vinho Verde? 5 things I didn’t know about this perfect summer wine 

Wendy at A Day in the Life on the Farm savors Tomato Poached Cod with Vinho Verde Wine. 

Linda at My Full Wine Glass realizes that Distinctively ‘laurel” Vinho Verde Delivers with Seafood and Salad 

Nicole at SommsTable is loving Vinho Verde and Simple Seafood Feast 

Payal at Keep the Peas is pairing Sem Igual Vinho Verde with Peixe Caldine 

Gwendolyn at Wine Predator says Vinho Verde: A Green Wine That’s White from Portugal Paired with Tuna, Tomato, Basil, Orzo #WinePW 

Martin at Enofylz is Pairing Maria Papoila Vinho Verde with Summer Pizza 

Terri at Our Good Life savors Scallops, Smashed Peas and a Great Vinho Verde 

Pinny at Chinese Food and Wine Pairing achieves A Successful Hunt Down of a Red Vinhao Escolha from Vinho Verde DOC #WinePW 

Cindy at Grape Experiences has been reminiscing upon last fall’s work trip where she spent A Beautiful Morning at Quinta da Aveleda in Vinho Verde

Please join our twitter conversation about Vinho Verde on Saturday, August 8 at 11am Eastern/8am Pacific and use the hashtag #WinePW. Salud!