Refreshing Summer Wine

It's Vinho Verde Week in New York City which runs through June 27.

If you live in NYC or happen to be in the city for business or vacation this week you will have the opportunity to taste Vinho Verde at many of the wine shops located throughout the many neighborhoods in Manhattan.

There will be several restaurants in the city offering special pairing menus or by-the-glass selections to showcase the wine's food friendly character.

"So what is Vinho Verde?" you ask.

Vinho Verde is a region in northern Portugal that is between the Douro River and the Spanish border and has a climate of hot summer days balanced by lots of rainfall in the winter.

The white wine labeled Vinho Verde from this region is a blend of regional white grapes which produce a light, young wine with a lower alcohol content of about 10% and has light fruit flavors of either apple, peach, or sometimes pineapple and citrus flavors of lime, grapefruit or lemon.

The low alcohol wine has a very small amount of carbon dioxide which gives the wine a hint of spritz or fiz (aka "petillance"). This makes the wine more food friendly and will pair well with appetizers or while you are waiting for the grill to heat up serve it as an apéritif.

Despite the 'literal' translation of vinho verde meaning green wine it actually translates to young wine because the wine is ready to drink 3-6 months after harvest. Also, Vinho Verde wines are made in rosé and red wine styles.

If you are looking for a summer wine that's refreshing and goes well with food then Vinho Verde is calling you. Enjoy it well-chilled with your summer appetizers, salads, seafood and fish, and chicken and lamb.

And it's very affordable in discount wine shops starting at $7 in most major cities.


Salute!
Winelady Cooks