The Demarcated Region of Vinho Verde

The Demarcated Region of Vinho Verde is located in the northwest of Portugal in an area traditionally known as Entre-Douro-e-Minho. Its limits are the Minho River in the North (border with Galicia), the mountainous areas in the East and South, forming the natural border between the Atlantic Entre-Douro-e-Minho and the Mediterranean inland regions, and the Atlantic Ocean as its western limit.

Orografically the region presents itself as “a wide amphitheater rising gradually from the maritime border to the inland “ (Amorim Girão), exposed to the Atlantic Ocean influence, being this even more reinforced by the main river valleys orientation, that facilitates the maritime winds’ penetration.

Sub-regions:

Amarante, Ave, Baião, Basto, Cávado, Lima, Monção and Melgaço, Paiva and Sousa

Vinho Verde is produced from grapes which do not reach great doses of sugar. Verde means “Green” because is a young wine. Therefore, Vinho Verde does not require an aging process.

Vinho Verde wines are now largely exported, and are the most exported Portuguese wines after the Port Wine. The most popular variety in Portugal and abroad are the white wines, but there are red and more rarely Also rosé wines.

A notable variety of Vinho Verde wine is Albariño which is a special variety of white Vinho Verde, the production of Alvarinho is restricted by EU law to a small sub-region of Monção, in the northern part of the Minho region in Portugal.

Verde means “Green”.

It has more alcohol (11.5 to 13%) than the other varieties (8 to 11.5%).