Portugese wines from the Alentejo region sizzle with succulent seafood dishes and a very affordable price tag.
Disclosure: The wines featured in this post were received as media samples. All opinions are my own.
Portugal is a seemingly tiny country. At 35,000 square miles, it is about the size of the state of Indiana.
Perhaps it is overshadowed by its larger more well known EU neighbors? Since there is so much incredible wine available from the Old World, how often do you hear about or see Portuguese wines for sale in the US (aside from Port)?
The country is home to over 250 native grape varietals and "the highest density of indigenous grapes per square mile of any country in the world," as written in the Seven Fifty Daily.
Still wines imported to the US are growing, and these are traditionally offered as blends rather than single varietal wines.
As a fan of vine diversity, I look forward to seeing wines made with Encruzado, Arinto dos Acores, Fernao Pires, Ramisco, and Touriga Franca grapes, to name a few.
One Portuguese winery making its debut in the US this year is Monte Velho with its certified vegan wines.
Certified Vegan
The vegan certification comes from the European Vegetarian Union. There are no inherent animal products in wine, but sometimes animal products are used to filter wine. The vegan certification ensures that animal products are not used in the winemaking process nor are animal byproducts used in the glue or labels on the bottles.
The Monte Velho wines also come in eco-considerate packaging. The glass bottles are lighter weight and shipped in recycled, varnish free cardboard boxes making for a lower carbon footprint.
Monte Velho Wines
Monte Velho is a wine label from Esporao, a well known Portuguese wine producer and advocate for eco-practices. They opt out of using pesticides and herbicides to improve soil quality and thereby make better wine.
The terroir is composed of clay soils, specifically a mix of granite and schist. The clay helps with water retention making for better drought resistance.
The wines come from vines that are an average of 18 years old and just $12 each.
Bonus points too for their female winemaker: Sandra Alves.
Succulent Seafood Menu
Since Portugal has a long coastline bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, I decided to pair these wines with none other than seafood.
Sea bream is found in the Meditteranean Sea and Atlantic fish. In Portugal, they call is "Dourada." If you've never had sea bream before, it is characterized by its blunt shaped nose and small size (6-8 inches). Its flavor is also distinct with an prominent succulence that I don't quite find in other fish of the same size.
- Whole Sea Bream dressed with Cajun spices
- Roasted Fennel and Potatoes, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Saigon Mussels Fresh Heirloom Tomatoes, White Wine, Garlic, Onion, Fish Sauce
2021 Monte Velho White
Blend of Antao Vaz, Perrum, and Roupeiro; $12
Made in stainless steel and fermented to roughly 2 g/l of residual sugar.
Recommended pairings: Olives, salted almonds, charcuterie, weeknight dinner, or romantic picnic for two
Thoughts: I have never heard of or tasted any of these grapes before, so definitely not like anything I've tasted before nor could compare it to. Because of that, I think I just liked this one on its own rather than with food.
2021 Monte Velho Rose
Blend of Touriga Nacional, Aragonez, Syrah, Trincadeira, Tinta Caiada, and white Arinto; $12
Made in stainless steel and fermented to roughly 2 g/l of residual sugar.
Visual: Peachy stained glass
Aroma: Pink lady apples, honeydew, whiff of potpourri
Taste: Oooh a little bite in the back palate, love the soft tannic interplay with the zesty red berries. Has more muscle than the white wine.
Pairing: Brightened up my mussels, played nice with the spice in the fish, and just a pretty wine to spend some time with.
The Last Drop
Portugal! New grape varietals to try and very affordable too. Monte Velho offers vegan wines and recently released an organic line, which will be one to watch (and try if you see it!)
Leave a Reply