Vinho Verde is a classic wine of Northern Portugal. The name refers to the unripe grapes from which it is made (Verde = Green). While both red and white Vinho Verde are made, the red is a seriously acquired taste, while the white is the one that most of us not accustomed to consuming the wines will love. Characteristics of Vinho Verde are: low alcohol, serious spritz, and a pleasant, herbal, tree and stone fruit flavor and aroma. Vinho Verde is usually non vintage, and meant to be consumed within a year of production.

The classic grapes for Vinho Verde are Loureiro for aroma, Trajadura for body, and Padernã (also called Arinto) for acidity. Many of the fancier Vinho Verde are made from Alvarinho (Albariño in Spain), but these are for export, and designed to compete with Rias Baixas from Spain which is just over the border to the north. The region is cool and moist, with a Maritime climate influenced mainly by the Atlantic Ocean. As a result of this, and to better utilize the land by planting other crops underneath, the vines here are planted on pergolas made of Granite and wires, or even trained to tree trunks with other crops planted underneath.

Broadbent Selections is a project of Bartholomew Broadbent, who headed up the US importer for the Symington Family’s brands Port and Madeira Brands (Fonseca, Warres, Taylor-Fladgate etc). Bartholomew is also the son of Michael Broadbent, the famous Master of Wine who headed the Christie’s wine auction department from 1966 onwards. In Bartholomew went out on his own, and founded Broadbent Selections, with the aim of producing his own port, and importing Ferreira Port. The company has expanded, and they now focus on family owned wineries, and their own labeled products.

Spritzy and crisp, Vinho Verde is the ultimate in refreshment, and pretty hard to stop drinking. Try it with olives, fish fritters, or anything deep fried. Drink NOWWW!!!