So, you've spent many a summer sipping crisp whites, dry Provence rosés and maybe even a juicy (or fizzy) red or two. But what about GREEN wine?
OK, so it's not actually green, but Vinho Verde does translate literally as "green wine." It's a crisp, zesty, Portuguese sensation and it's coming to a wine bar near you (if it's not already there).
Vinho Verde isn't actually one wine. Instead, it refers to both an area and a style of wine. Vinho Verde is Portugal's largest wine region, spreading from the north of the country to the Atlantic Ocean in the west. This area of Portugal is pretty green and lush, owing to its humid temperature and heavy rainfall. There are also plenty of Atlantic breezes, creating super fresh, high acidity and low ABV wines. So far, so very different from the Algarve.
Vinho Verde also refers to a type of wine made in this area. You can get white, red, rosé and sparkling Vinho Verde wines, all displaying lots of freshness and meant to be drunk young, so no putting the bottle away to store for months on end, OK? The whites usually have crisp, citrusy notes with plenty of green apple, and the reds and rosés have red berries, sour plums and pepperiness.
The main grapes grown are Loureiro, Avesso, Alvarinho and Arinto. They're grown in granite soils over the 24,000 hectares that the Vinho Verde region takes up in Portugal.
Nope. Despite its name, the wine itself isn't green (although if you fancy a chuckle, check out wine shop Top Cuvee's April Fool's post from 2021.). In fact, up until about 40 years ago, the main wine made in the region was red wine, using native grapes for the consumption of locals. Now, over 80% of production is for white wine. Most of the bottles you'll find on menus and in shops will be white, so if you spy a red or rosé Vinho Verde you'll actually be drinking something fairly rare here in the UK. The whites often have a greenish tinge and might even give the aroma or taste of underripe fruit and "green-ness."
If you've ever tried a bottle of Vinho Verde, you might notice a slight effervescence. Nowadays, this fizz is added in artificially with CO2, so you'll usually find the best quality bottles are completely still. Originally, the fizz was caused by winemakers bottling the wine so quickly that fermentation continued in the bottle. This is usually considered a winemaking fault, but producers found that wine drinkers quite liked it, which led to the bubbles being added artificially when Vinho Verde gained widespread popularity.
Because of its saline, fresh taste, white Vinho Verde wines go brilliantly with seafood dishes like sushi, fish tacos or even a fresh and zesty prawn pasta. They're also great for beach-side drinking and picnics as they're cheap, cheerful and you can drink one out of a reusable plastic cup and still enjoy it.
One of the great things about Vinho Verde, and a lot of Portuguese wines in general, is that they're brilliant value for money. You can pick up a bottle for a fiver or spend up to about £15 for a more special bottle.
When it comes to specific bottles of Vinho Verde, there's one name on everyone's lips: Chin Chin. The wine, created by London wine bar Noble Rot in collaboration with winemakers Quinta do Ermizio, took young Millennial and Gen Z wine aficionados by storm during lockdown, and it's still enjoying success now in 2023. It's got all the crisp, zestiness of a classic white Vinho Verde wine with some more complex stone fruity flavours at a great price point with a snazzy label designed by Jose Miguel Mendez. Not only does it look and taste great, but you won't find it at supermarkets (it's only supplied to bars, restaurants and independent shops) so there's an air of exclusivity about it, despite a bottle only costing £12.
However, there are loads of other great bottles you can pick up from major retailers, so keep on scrolling for our top picks.