Trajadura, Azal, and Vinhão from Cávado, Vinho Verde, Portugal; medium bodied and dry with notes of ripe strawberry, redcurrant, cherry tea, flowers, leather, bark, and earth, with savory undertones, medium acidity, dry chalky tannins, a creamy texture, and a spicy finish. Organic and Sustainable

White grapes (Trajadura and Azal) are cofermented with 2 days of maceration. Once fermentation is complete, the wine is blended with the skins from the Vinhão (red grape) and macerated for 5-8 months.

From the importer, Carnelia: 

Cávado is a central Vinho Verde subregion along the Cávado river, subject to sea winds and rainy winters.

After a 20-year hiatus in wine production, Ricardo Moreira and family acquired Quinta de Penhó, a 15 hectare farm located near their existing property in Vinho Verde. Two hectares of vineyards were present and five more were added in 2018 and 2020, and the winery was installed in an old house built by the family in the 18th centurty. Thick granite walls maintain a steady temperature, and pigeage is done in the 300-year-old original granite vats.

The terraced vineyards climb a steeply sloped mountaintop, with a breathtaking view of the valley below and a surrounding environment of healthy biodiversity. In addition to an abundance of wild animals, plants, and microorganisms, the farm boasts several hectares of fruit, nut, and other native trees. Distict soil types (granite, quartzite, schist) and a steep gain in altitude (180-550m) allow multiple wine profiles to be drawn out from each grape variety. All of the grapes grown at Quinta de Penhó are native to the Vinho Verde region.

Farming and winemaking are viewed as part of a thriving ecosystem and are managed as such. To preserve integrity, character, and sense of place, nothing is added or taken away other than very low doses of sulfur at bottling. Every wine is made with foot pigeage, 2 days of pre-fermentative maceration, and indigenous yeast fermentation. After pressing, wines remain on the lees with no racking and no bâttonage. No filtration, stabilization, fining, clarification, corrections, or alterations.