A fresh splash from coastal Portugal
Producer
The dog days of August are not quite upon us, though it certainly feels like it. One way to find relief from the heat dome currently hanging over much of the country, is to reach for a refreshing glass of wine.
For me, that was an easy-going bottle of Alvarinho from Portugal’s Minho region, a coastal Protected Geographical Indication bordering Spain’s Galicia province.
Nortico Alvarinho, made by Alberto Orte from more than 100 sustainably farmed small vineyard plots of old vines planted near the Minho River, located in the villages of Monção and Melgaço. It is a farm to table wine, retaining its sense of place—a saline edge with zesty citrus fruit and slices of yellow apple.
The wine is lemon-hued, slightly honeyed and medium bodied, with tropical tones of nectarine and mango. Unlike wines from the larger Vinho Verde area, which often have a slight effervescence, Nortico has no added CO2, making for a slightly fuller wine that is a friendly food partner, but still light on its feet.
Have this with seafood of any kind: It will pair nicely with either lightly sauced or grilled fish, grilled octopus, a composed summer salad of roasted vegetables, or with cornbread and butter as is the tradition in Portugal. Or, by itself.
It arrives in a pretty label inspired by from the country’s traditional hand-painted “azulejos” blue tiles. Find it for about $18 SRP and stock up for August.