The Auswine Forum

Vinho Verde is a traditional style made in NW Portugal. Its light, low in alcohol, high in acid & slightly spritzig. Made quickly & drunk quickly I think. Can anyone tell me how its made, especially the white?

The name Vinho Verde means green wine which figures because you end up with a face like a half sucked wine-gum after having a sip
The trellising system is a pergola which allows room for other crops beneath and also reduces rot in the warm humid climate.
The Vinho Verde DOC has 6 sub-regions with a variety of grapes being grown....alvarinho, loubeiro,trajadura, pederna and avesso.
Produced in two way.....primary ferment in large open stone vats then plopped into cask for MLF where the CO2 produced is retained in the wine....usually unfiltered.....or the method used by the co-ops....pressed mechanically, fermented in vat, MLF is surpressed and CO2 is injected before bottling.....the bottles hardly ever carry a vintage on the label and should be drunk within a year of harvest....errrr.....which is kind of hard to work out

Have a look here: http://www.vinhoverde.pt/en/tecnologia/vinificacao.htm

Cheers

Dave