Main white varieties:
Alvarinho
This variety is cultivated particularly in the sub-region of Monção and Melgaço, but given its high quality it has been taken to other parts of the region and country. The wine is characterized by an intense color, straw, with citrus reflections, intense, distinct and complex aroma, ranging from quince, peach, banana, lemon, passion fruit and lychee, orange blossom and violet, hazelnut and walnut , and honey, with a complex flavor, soft, round, harmonious, full-bodied, persistent and with mineral notes that contribute to the characteristic freshness.
The Alvarinho variety has great potential for aging and evolution in the bottle. Sometimes with nuances of fermentation and aging in barrels, always keeping a fresh side. With time, the variety acquires aromas of ripe orange, quince, hazelnut, walnut (almond character) and honey (caramelized character) notes.
Arinto
Variety grown throughout the region (not recommended in the sub-region of Monção and Melgaço). Also known as Pedernã, it reaches its highest level of quality in the interior areas of the region. The wines are citrus to straw in color, have a rich aroma, from citrus fruit and pome fruit (ripe apple and pear) to floral (lantanas). The flavor is fresh, mineral with a salty, harmonious and persistent touch.It has great aging potential, with time the variety acquires hints of peach jam.
Avesso
This variety is cultivated particularly in the sub-region of Baião, but given its high quality, it has been cultivated in neighboring sub-regions such as Amarante, Paiva and Sousa. It produces wines with an intense color, open straw, with greenish reflections, a mixed aroma between fruity (orange and peach), almond (nuts) and floral, with the dominant fruity character, delicate, subtle and complex. The flavor is fruity, intense, fresh, harmonious, full-bodied and persistent. Salty character with great structure, crunchy and voluminous. These aroma and flavor potential are revealed only a few months after winemaking. Great guarding potential. Even with the evolution, it maintains white fruit notes (quince, pear) with excellent mouth volume.
Azal
This variety is cultivated particularly in inland areas where it ripens well and reaches its level of quality when planted in dry and well exposed soils in the sub-regions of Amarante, Basto, Baião and Sousa. It produces wines with a pale citrus yellow color to the most intense citrus quince. Fruity aroma (lime, lemon sometimes grapefruit and green apple). Fruity green lemon flavor with citrus and mineral notes. It presents excellent freshness. Preserves the fresh and citrus character, becoming more elegant and harmonious over time.
Loureiro
This variety is cultivated in almost the entire region and is better adapted to coastal areas, not being recommended only in the more interior sub-regions such as Amarante, Basto and Baião. Ancient and of high quality, it produces wines from citrus color to straw yellow. Fruity character, from citrus (lemon) and green apple, mint with an emphasis on the floral character: delicate (reminiscent of roses) to sweet terpene (reminiscent of jasmine). It can also present notes of honey and even tropical aromas. Refreshing fruity flavor, elegant mineral and persistent. Evolves into notes of honey and beeswax. Very versatile variety.
Trajadura
Variety grown throughout the region (not recommended in the sub-region of Baião), of good quality, it produces wines with a citrus yellow color, discolored to golden straw yellow. Aroma of ripe fruit (apple, pear and peach), with dominance of green apple in cold years. In the mouth it has a fruity character, soft, round flavor, with a moderate acidity and quite elegant. With time, evolves into luscious aromas and ripe fruit, in the mouth the evolution intensifies the great structure of the variety, long and velvety aftertaste.
Main grape varieties:
Espadeiro
Excellent variety for the region's rosé wines. It produces color wines ranging from pale pink to intense pink to "onion skin" to salmon and even "orange" tones. In red wines it has a light ruby and ruby color. Fresh aroma with hints of wild berries, especially strawberry, sometimes cherries and tropical fruit nuances. It has an intense flavor, fruity character (intense strawberry and blackcurrant notes), great freshness, with a fresh and medium duration finish. Good ability to evolve by developing jam aromas. The well-marked natural acidity allows you to maintain the freshness of the mouth over time. The color evolves to more orange tones.
Padeiro
Cultivated particularly in the sub-region of Basto, being also recommended in the sub-regions of Ave and Cávado. It produces light pink to deep pink wines. Aromas of red fruits (strawberry and raspberry), with a tendency to sweet aromas (fresh guava) reminiscent of "candy". Grape variety with a dominant fruity character, harmonious, tasty and persistent flavour. Evolves into light floral notes and sometimes ripe plum.
Vinhão
This widespread variety is cultivated throughout the Region for it?s quality and for being the only regional dye variety. It produces wines with an intense color, garnet red, with an intense aroma of ripe red fruits such as blackcurrant, blackberry, raspberries and, at times, the floral character of violet. Variety of great character and volume, lots of fruit in the mouth, intense, with a round and refreshing flavor. Firm tannins that offer more complexity. Very persistent aftertaste with a little astringency. With time evolves into notes of cloves, cloves (a mixture of vegetables and sweets). Smooth tannins. Very gastronomic.
