Vineyards in Vinho Verde Demarcated Region in Minho, Portugal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Having now become a regular and at least once a year visitor to Portugal I've become a fan not only of their Port wines, but of all their wines–red, white, rose and yes, green. As a matter of fact the Vinho Verde (green wines) are rapidly becoming my favorite afternoon relaxation sipper.
In a nutshell, the Vinho Verde's bring freshness to every glass and are low enough in alcohol to not make you feel like you're imbibbing too much. Besides, at under 4 euros a bottle for some really good Vinho Verde's there's not much reason to not be enjoying them.
My first pick is always the Casal Garcia wines. The rose and whites are just so refreshing and a joy to drink. You don't sit back and analyze them, you simply drink them. Delicate, floral, spicy, racy. Pick an adjective, they all apply.
Another "green" wine I've been enjoying is the Quita de Aveleda Vinho Verde. This is the house wine at the best chicken shack in Portugal, the Jardim de Frangoes in Cascais. They offer it in both half and full bottles, or by the glass. The bottom line is this delightful wine stands up to the Peri Peri pepper spice that's layered on the grilled chicken and makes the meal the best value around.
The third producer who has never let me down is Reguengo de Melgaco. This is a slightly more expensive wine, and seems to be a fanatstic choice with shellfish and rich fish stews. It has a bit more body and a lot more going for it. Lime and lemon, with hints of orange zest make this wine a real winner.
