History of Vinho Verde
History of Vinho Verde

The story goes that the wines of Vinho Verde

were the first Portuguese wines exported to European markets. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the wines from the Minho Valley and the Lima Valley were regularly transported to northern Europe in the same boats that brought bacalhau (salt cod) and manufactured products.

Already at the time of the monarchy, particularly during the reign of King Charles in 1908, the quality and genuineness of the Vinho Verde wine region was being officially recognized by the demarcation of region as a geographical area of production.

Today the Vinho Verde region, occupying northwest Portugal, is one of the largest and oldest wine regions in the world. It is home to thousands of producers, generates a wealth of economic activity and jobs, and strongly contributes to the development of Minho and the country. Wines with the designation of origin Vinho Verde produced here are unique and valued in the world of wine.

The origin of the Vinho Verde name refers to the natural characteristics of the region, which produce dense green foliage, but which also contribute to the wine's profile with freshness and lightness. It is this youthfulness that the wine is named after, in comparison to other more complex and weighty wines.

Recurrently awarded in national and international competitions, Vinho Verde today is certainly not the same as a decade ago, as a result of the investment of the Vinho Verde region in new vineyards, new vineyard planting systems, a new generation of winemakers and general professionalization of the industry. Year after year the producers of the Vinho Verde region surprise the markets with innovative and top quality wines. Fresh and lush, the wines are balanced and some, like Vinho Verde Alvarinho, show remarkable aging potential.