Vinho Verde

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The region is located in northwestern Portugal at altitudes below 700 metres, with approximately 16,000 ha of vineyards, bounded to the north by the River Minho and to the south by the River Douro and the Freita, Arada and Montemuro mountain ranges.
• The topography forms an amphitheatre from the coast to the interior, oriented towards the Atlantic Ocean and carved by a dense network of river valleys that facilitates the penetration of Atlantic winds.
• The soils are shallow and heterogeneous, predominantly of granitic origin, with two narrow schist-derived strips crossing the region in a southeast–northwest direction.
• The climate is mild, without extreme temperatures, with a mean annual rainfall of 1,200 mm, distributed irregularly throughout the year and concentrated in winter and spring.
• The Vinho Verde appellation is divided into nine sub-regions — Amarante, Ave, Baião, Basto, Cávado, Lima, Monção e Melgaço, Paiva and Sousa — distinguished by maritime exposure, altitude, hydrographic network, soil heterogeneity and microclimates.

• The production area of the Vinho Verde appellation was originally demarcated in 1908.
• Traditional viticultural practices favour continuous or border-trained vines, trained at medium or high height, and grape varieties adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of the various geographical zones within the region.

• Vinho Verde wines display aromatic richness, high freshness and balanced acidity, with a generally moderate alcohol content — characteristics common to the entire appellation.
• In the sub-regions of Amarante, Baião and Basto, wines have an alcoholic strength above the regional average, moderate acidity and freshness, deep colour, citrus and tropical fruit aromas, mineral character and structure.

• In the inland sub-regions of Amarante, Baião and Basto, greater diurnal temperature ranges, increased shelter from Atlantic winds and higher mean altitudes favour the development of later-ripening grape varieties and produce wines with an alcoholic strength above the regional average.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the specification (caderno de especificações).

Sub-regiões

• Amarante DOC (PDO)
• Ave DOC (PDO)
• Baião DOC (PDO)
• Basto DOC (PDO)
• Cávado DOC (PDO)
• Lima DOC (PDO)
• Monção e Melgaço DOC (PDO)
• Paiva DOC (PDO)
• Sousa DOC (PDO)

All appellations in Portugal

Sources

• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-PT-A1545
• Official trade body site — Comissão de Viticultura da Região dos Vinhos Verdes