WineAlign

• By Sara d'Amato
  1/9/2020 (link)

  (Arca Nova Vinho Verde, Doc white) Subscribe to see review text.

• By David Lawrason
  1/5/2020 (link)

  (Arca Nova Vinho Verde, Doc white) Subscribe to see review text.

Full Pull

• By Paul Zitarelli
  Full Pull Arca Nova, 7/2/2018

  (Arca Nova Vinho Verde) Hello friends. There are some wines that mark the arrival of good weather. The ever faithful Seven Hills’ Rose as the spring starts to approach; Basque-made Ameztoi Txakolina as we see our first nice days; Vinho Verde once the July sunshine hits.Vinho Verde has become a household name for much of the United States because of it’s quaffable low-ABV, screaming high acidity, and touch of effervescence—but Vinho Verde is more than just a wine, it’s a region as well. In fact, it’s the largest DOC in Portugal, spanning the coastal northwest tip of the country, with a history over 2,000 years old. Known for being cold and rainy much of the year, Vinho Verde’s nearly 20,000 small producers have built an intricate system of growing that’s unlike most places in the world. Their vines are trained for decades to grow around the edges of vineyards, high off the ground, and up everything from pergolas to telephone poles in order to stay dry—and make way for other vegetables to grow. Many of the small, old farms and producers live off the produce grown underneath their sprawling grape vines. And it’s not just any old Vinho Verde that marks the start of summer sunshine—it has to be the Arca Nova Vinho Verde. There is no wine more quintessential of this region than Arca Nova. Farmed and made by Quinta da Arcas, a small family-owned estate, these vine clusters are trellised and grow six feet above ground. Vinho Verde literally translates to “green wine”—and Arca Nova’s offering lives up to the name. (The bottle itself is fitting alone.) Made from native Portuguese grapes (50% Loureiro, 40% Arinto, 10% Treixadura), and clocking in at 10.5% alcohol, the glass opens with tart and tangy green apple, juicy pear, flowering blooms, and lemon-lime citrus. On the palate, it’s crisp and dry with bright acidity and a true sense of minerality. There is a touch of creaminess that quickly gives way to citrus, apple, and pear fruit. The finish lingers with effervescence—fun, fizzy, and freakin’ delicious. Just like summer, this wine is of the essence. It’s meant to drink right away—and will probably be all sold out in our market before September hits. When thinking about pairing, remember that all of Portugal’s wine is made with the food of the region in mind. Vinho Verde (though it doesn’t need food to be enjoyed) is all about seafood. Portuguese salt cod, whole grilled branzino, dorade with lemon and parsley, sautéed chouriço and clams, or simply bread and herbaceous goat cheese.