Overview
Vinho Verde, meaning young wine, covers the lush, green Minho region in northwestern Portugal. It is the country's largest demarcated region, a patchwork of small holdings on granite hillsides cooled by Atlantic breezes. The name refers to the youthful, fresh style rather than any green color.
The maritime climate, fertile granite soils, and high rainfall yield wines with vibrant natural acidity and often a gentle petillance. While refreshing white blends dominate, the region also makes tangy reds and rosés from indigenous grapes.
Key Varietals
- AlvarinhoThe star white grape of the Minho, producing aromatic, peach-scented wines with crisp acidity and saline minerality.
- LoureiroA fragrant white variety that adds citrus, floral, and gentle herbal notes to Vinho Verde blends.
- ArintoA high-acid white grape that brings brightness, lemon, and aging potential to regional whites.
- VinhãoA dark-skinned local red producing inky, tart, lightly fizzy red wines with wild berry flavors.
Region snapshot
Climate
Maritime Atlantic
Rainfall
1,200-1,600 mm annually, among Portugal's wettest
Soil Types
Granite, schist, and alluvial terraces
