This time of year is perfect for a picnic—to pack a hamper, pick a spot and enjoy oneself in nature eating al fresco. You know I will be putting some wine in my hamper to pair perfectly with the food, the location and the people.
Right now, that wine would be vinho verde. Vinho Verde is both a wine and a wine region located in the hills of northern Portugal. The wine has been captivating wine enthusiasts for centuries with its crisp, refreshing character. The wine history of this region, which stretches from just below the Portuguese-Spanish border to the Atlantic Ocean in the Douro Valley, dates to Roman times. Historical records show that by the 16th and 17th centuries, these wines were already being exported to northern Europe. The area’s modern history began in the early 1900s during the reign of King Carlos, when it became a recognized wine region.
In Portuguese, “vinho verde” means green wine. That does not refer to the color of the wine, which is produced in white, red and rosé styles, but to its bright, youthful character. It is typically released three to six months after harvest.
I asked Lacie Flannery—who owns Mt. Rose Wine Company with her husband, Doug, at The Summit Reno—about her thoughts on vinho verde. “I just love the palate of vinho verde,” she said. “It is refreshing with citrusy notes, green apple and sometimes melon, with a light mouthfeel and a fun fizziness. Right now, vinho verde is my go-to.” I couldn’t agree with those descriptors more.
Vinho verde wines are typically made from indigenous Portuguese grape varieties such as alvarinho, loureiro, arinto, avesso, azal and trajadura for white wines, and vinhão, borraçal and amaral for reds and rosés. The grapes are harvested before they reach peak ripeness to maintain high acidity levels—crucial for the wine’s fresh character and tartness. The wine undergoes a quick fermentation process at low temperatures to preserve the fruity aromas, and the slight fizziness is traditionally created from malolactic fermentation in the bottle. The alcohol levels of vinho verde wines are typically low, ranging from 8.5% to 11%. To preserve the wine’s freshness and slight carbonation, it’s bottled quickly after fermentation.
Vinho verde is a wine many people have never tried before. I asked Flannery how she helps guide her customers to try it.
“If someone comes into the store on the way to the lake, hiking or whatever, and they say they like crisp sauvignon blanc or chenin blanc, that is a good gateway to introduce a vinho verde,” she said.
There are many wines that wine people refer to as “high-acid” wines, but Flannery noted that the term can turn people off. She’s likely to call it “tart” instead. “What I’m describing is a mouthwatering sensation like you get from a green apple, a lemon or a lime,” she said.
Now that you know what vinho verde tastes like, what foods would be good to pair with it?
”For a picnic, cold pasta and roasted or fried chicken would really complement it and bring out those zippy, citrusy flavors in the wine,” Flannery said. “Pork or beef street tacos would also be great.”
Vinho verde is a little like sparkling wine when it comes to pairings, as it is great with everything from Asian dishes to regional Portuguese specialties like arroz de lampreia (lamprey rice) and fresh sardines; it’s also great with sushi and sashimi, as well as summer salads with melon or shrimp. The crisp acidity and light, refreshing nature of vinho verde make it particularly well-suited to dishes with citrus notes, herbs and light spices. Its lower alcohol makes it an excellent choice for pairing with spicier foods, as it helps cool the palate.
“Don’t be afraid to pull the bottle off the shelf,” Flannery said. “They’re typically inexpensive and approachable. If you’re going to a picnic or taking it to a gathering, it’s something different that the host might not have ever tasted before. It is a fun varietal that is delicious, young and citrusy, and I think it will be a crowd favorite for a lot of people. I know picking a different wine off the shelf isn’t always the easiest thing, especially if you’re not familiar with it, but this is one of the ones I would definitely take a chance on.”
Great advice. If you are heading to or from the lake or shopping at The Summit in south Reno, you should stop at Mt. Rose Wine Company for a bottle or glass of affordable, premium wine. Have a great picnic—and don’t feed the bears!