Portugal and Green a Great Wine is made Vinho Verde

   In Portugal 60% of the wine made is red, rose and fortified, and 40% of wine made is white.  Besides Port, I think one of Portugal's great contribution to wine is their Vinho Verde.  Vinho Verde means Green Wine, don't worry the wine isn't green.
   But before I get too far into the Vinho Verde white wine let me back up and tell you more about the region Vinho Verde.  Vinho Verde is the largest DOC region in Portugal.  It covers the entire northwestern corner.   
    Let's talk about the wine Vinho Verde.  There is a red Vinho Verde, it has a lot of tannins and goes well with their local sea food.  From here on out when I write Vinho Verde I will be referring to the white wine, mainly because it is the only one I have had and most likely the only one you can find in the US.  The terroir is manly a granite soil, and with the cool weather a "..crisp, minerally Vinho Verde.." is produced.  Vinho Verde is meant to be consumed young.  In some places there will not be a vintage on the bottle which usually mean it is from the previous years harvest.  The wine is dry (no sugar) with a slight fizz.  Vinho Verde is often described as "searing high levels of acidity", when exported the wine is usually sweetened a bit to hide the acidity.  The alcohol content is low 8.5 - 11.5%.
    The wine is made from a field blend, a combination of about 25 different grapes, with Loureiro and Trajadura being the two most popular.  The wine can be  made with one of those grapes or any combination.  This wine started out as wine that the farmers would make for themselves with whatever grapes that they have.
    I had the Twin Vines Vinho Verde.  It is on the acidic side.  The slight fizz helps balance out the acidity.  I personally enjoy the acidity (almost a sour taste), and the strong flavors.  It is great on a hot summer day when there is bit of humidity, while sitting by the pool.  It is a fun wine to try.  Even if you don't like you have now tried a new kind of wine and have learned something new.
Enjoy!

photo from : http://www.jmftwinvines.com/about-twin-vines-wine.html
information from: no auther, consultant Susan Keevil (2010). Wines of the World.  New York NY, Metro Books.
     originally published by Dorling Kindersley Limited in 2004
   Given to me by my mother and father in law