Why is Vinho Verde really called Vinho Verde? 

24 Sep 2023 min reading

The reason is due to the region where it is grown, and not to the fact that it is younger than other wines, such as the Federweißer wine in Germany. The green landscape of northeast Portugal, in the Minho region, is responsible for the name "Vinho Verde" and its naming. This area stretches from the northern bank of the River Douro in the south to the border with Galicia in the north.  

From Melgaço to Vale de Cambra, from Esposende to the granite hills of Basto, on the border with Trás-os-Montes, this area is very hilly and its ups and downs give rise to incomparable wines due to its fertile soils. From the classic Vinho Verde, young, light, fresh and with a low alcoholic content, to the sophisticated Vinho Verde, this region has it all. 

The rigorous climate and the influence of the Atlantic Ocean play an important role in both the weather and the amount of precipitation. Because here, more than anywhere else in Portugal, an umbrella is part of the basic equipment for every walk. The Avesso, Arinto, Loureiro and Alvarinho grape varieties that grow here and the resulting wines. They are very fresh and fruity wines with a slight touch of natural carbonation, which is related to the minerals present in the soil. They are pressed both as red and white wines.  

There are significant climatic differences in the Vinho Verde region, which are reflected in the nine sub-regions whose names derive from rivers or cities such as Monção and Melgaço, Lima, Cávado, Ave, Basto, Sousa, Baião, Paiva and Amarante.  

The grape varieties also vary.  Alvarinho wines are the best known and are full-bodied wines, with aromatic notes that stand out from the rest, and it is a speciality of the sub-region of Monção and Melgaço in the north. Here there is less rain and in summer the temperatures are much higher. In this microclimate, the Alvarinho grape variety produces a full-bodied dry wine that has a subtle, fresh and complex aroma with scents of apricots, peaches and citrus. In addition, there is a very unique and attractive mineral character. 

South of Monção and Melgaço are the sub-regions of Lima, Cávado and Ave. Here, the main grape variety is Loureiro, although Arinto and Trajadura are also widely used. The wines from these sub-regions are generally fresh and aromatic, often infused with notes of citrus fruit and flowers. In the mountainous sub-regions of Basto and Sousa, light wines are produced from different grape varieties. In the sub-regions of Amarante and Baião, the Avesso grape produces dry, fresh white wines with rich aromas and mineral character. Amarante and Paiva, the latter south of the Douro River, are known for their red wines. 
History tells us that the first Portuguese wines exported to Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries came from the Minho and Lima valleys. To do so, they were regularly loaded onto the same ships going to northern Europe that previously brought cod and other goods here to the south. 

Today, the "Vinhos Verdes" region, which can only be called that in Portugal and whose name is a registered trademark, is one of the largest and oldest wine regions in the world. The wines with the Vinho Verde appellation of origin are also only pressed and grown here and are considered unique in the world. 

Vinho Verde is synonymous with diversity. The climate and unique vegetation that has been created here over thousands of years by the Atlantic, as well as the native grape varieties that are produced here.  They allow the production of an infinite number of wines with all facets and colours.  

The result is a large number and variety of different wines, be it the elegant one for the aperitif or the more powerful one for the meal. It is said in Portugal that there is always "The perfect Vinho Verde" for every gastronomic occasion.  
The truth is that Vinho Verde can satisfy all tastes, from those looking for a young and light aperitif wine, to those wanting something more structured, complex and aged or even just an intense wine with mineral effect and fruity aromas.  
Vinho Verde has it all, and this region of Vinhos Verdes has a variety of gastronomic surprises in addition to the wine.  

As we say; "There is a Vinho Verde for every moment".

Author: Paulo Lopes