Ep 393: A Trip to Vinho Verde and a Fresh Outlook on these Wines

<p>I need to thank the <a href= "https://www.vinhoverde.pt/en/historical-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commission of Vinho Verde</a> for hosting this trip to the region and setting up such wonderful experiences that really gave a 360˚ view of this region.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href= "https://www.winefornormalpeople.com/ep-291-vinho-verde-has-so-much-more-to-it-than-you-know/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style= "display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/45638/IMG_2258.jpeg" alt="" width="339" height="407" /><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Photo: ©Wine For Normal People, Vineyards of Aveleda</em></span></a></p> <p>After talking about a wonderful tasting at Graham’s Port Lodge in Vila Nova di Gaia (across the Douro from Porto) and Quinta do Noval, we discuss some important things about Vinho Verde that augment <a href= "https://www.winefornormalpeople.com/ep-291-vinho-verde-has-so-much-more-to-it-than-you-know/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Episode 291</a> from my time there. This show is not about the base tier wines – fizzy, cheap and cheerful versions, but about the premium wines that are single grape varieties and made in interesting ways. It’s a look into the diversity that Vinho Verde has to offer, beyond what you may know!</p> <p> </p> <p>We discuss some key points on Vinho Verde:</p> <ul> <li>There are nine subregions (see below for more detail). Depending on whether they are in the north or the south, closer to the Atlantic or inland, styles and grapes vary enormously.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <ul> <li>We talk about the thing that wowed me the most: how very different the aromas and flavors of wines of this region are based on the soil they grow on – granite v. schist</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>We discuss the main grapes and their general flavor profiles:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Loureiro</strong>: A grape with herbal bitterness, that’s floral, and creamy. It’s the top grape of coastal areas.<br /> <br /></li> <li><strong>Arin