VISIT THE VINHO VERDE WINE REGION OF PORTUGAL
The stunning landscapes of the Vinho Verde wine region
Photo source: Wine Keller
Suggestions for wine tours, vineyard tours & wine tasting in the Vinho Verde region:
Recommended tour operators in Vinho Verde for wine tours, wine tasting & vineyard tours:
Wild Douro - A tourism management company, specialising in creating tailor-made, bespoke tours in mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.
Vinho Verde Portugal - an introduction
The demarcated Vinho Verde wine region lies in north Portugal and is the country’s largest, greenest, wettest and probably, most mis-understood wine region. This beautiful Portuguese wine region occupies the geographical region called Minho. To the west of the region lies the Atlantic and to the north, Spanish Galicia, with the River Minho forming part of the border. To its south and east lie the Portuguese wine regions of Douro, Dão, Bairrada and Tràs-os-Montes.
The Vinho Verde region produces a diverse range of wine types and styles, not just ‘green’ - or ‘young’ wines as the name of the region translates and what the region has always been known for. Things have changed in recent years, due to an influx of new vine growers and winemakers - so let’s discover more about today’s beautiful Vinho Verde wine region!
In the far north of Vinho Verde close to the mountains of Galicia
Landscapes in the Basto region of Vinho Verde
One of the many ancient bridges in the Peneda-Gerês National Park
Guimaraes Castle - a land of history & traditions
Vinho Verde vineyards
The diverse Vinho Verde wine region is made up of 9 sub-regions, comprising rugged mountain peaks, lush green valleys and fertile land. The region accounts for a seventh of all Portuguese wine production.
The climate and soils vary across the 9 sub-regions, which are all named after rivers or towns. In some regions you will typically see vines growing on trellises 6 feet high, which keep the vines and grapes from hanging low on the wet ground, but also traditionally enable other crops, like potatoes and corn, to be grown underneath. Some of the world’s most beautiful vineyards are to be found in Vinho Verde.
The traditional high trellis vines at Quinta de Soahleiro, Melgaço
Vinho Verde Portugal map
Vinho Verde map with its sub regions - Source: Wine Folly
In the far north of the region, slightly inland and along the border with Spain, where the rainfall is lower and the summer temperatures higher than elsewhere in Vinho Verde, is the Monção and Melgaço sub-region. Here, elegant, white wines from the Alvarinho grape variety, which thrive in the granite soils, are a speciality. This region is probably Vinho Verde’s most well-known sub-region.
South of Monção and Melgaço are the sub-regions Lima, Cávado and Ave, which are closest to the coast and more rainy and tend to produce fresh, aromatic wines. The mountainous sub-regions of Basto and Sousa also produce light wines from various grape varieties.
The sub-regions of Amarante and Baião are more mountainous and sunny and produce dry and fresh white wines with rich aromas and a mineral character. Both Amarante and Paiva, the latter south of the Douro River, which is sunnier again, are well known for their red wines.
Vinho Verde wine
There is a long history of winemaking in Vinho Verde and the region has long been recognised for its young, light and refreshing wines.
What is Portuguese Vinho Verde?
‘Green’ is an apt name for this region, characterised by lush landscapes and heavy green vine foliage. The relatively higher level of rainfall has helped create this unique, young/green style of wine, due to the essentially unripe nature of the grapes.
In former times Vinho Verde had a reputation for its ‘sparkling wines’, which resulted from very young wines continuing the fermentation process in the bottle. Today, it is less common to find a sparkling Vinho Verde wine and any tend to be artificially carbonated.
In more recent years Vinho Verde has built a reputation for producing a wide range of top quality wines, some with great ageing potential.
Vinho Verde grapes
Under the rules of the DOC Vinho Verde, established in 1908, wines need to be made from the local, native grape varieties.
Vinho Verde white wine
Vineyards in the Monção and Melgaço region of Vinho Verde at Quinta da Torre, Anselmo Mendes - Source: Wine Keller
The predominant Vinho Verde style is a light, fresh, young and aromatic white wine - think white melon, gooseberry, grapefruit, and lime blossom - which pairs really well with salads, fish, seafood, vegetable dishes, citrus sauces and sushi.
There are 6 dominant white grape varieties, which are mostly blended, but an exception is the growing number of high quality Vinho Verde Alvarinho wines coming from Monção and Melgaço in the very north of the region. The varieties include: Alvarinho, Arinto, Avesso, Azal, Loureiro and Trajadura.
Vinho Verde red and rosé wine
Red and rosé wine is harder to come by in Vinho Verde - due to the climate - however increasingly more producers are making red and rosé wines from the local Vinhão grape variety which is widely grown across the region.
Vinho Regional Minho wines
Wines can also be produced under the more flexible rules of ‘Vinho Regional Minho’.
Recommended Vinho Verde wineries:
Many of Vinho Verde’s wineries are small family businesses, but several have developed into large organisations and wine tourism destinations in their own right. Wherever you go, however, you’ll be sure to receive a warm Portuguese welcome!
Here are a few wine estates we can personally recommend to you:
Anselmo Mendes (Melgaço)
Casa da Tojeira (Basto)
Quinta das Arcas (north of Porto)
Quinta do Ameal/Esporão (Lima)
Quinta de Santa Cristina (Basto)
Quinta de Santa Teresa (Baião)
Quinta de Soalheiro (Melgaço)
Beautiful and historic Guimaraes
Beautiful, lush green landscapes
Old farming traditions
The River Minho
Planning a wine tour in Vinho Verde - Portugal’s Minho region
North Portugal’s Minho and the Vinho Verde wine region, is an area of outstanding natural beauty with mountains, river valleys, historic cities and a dramatic Atlantic coastline, called the ‘Costa Verde’ - so therefore, it has it all!
Like so many parts of Portugal, the Minho region has not really been on the tourist trail, with people favouring the southern regions, especially the Algarve. However north Portugal is an incredible tourism destination. Alto Minho Portugal is the oldest part of the country and the most characterful, so it really is worth exploring this beautiful region and discovering the amazing Vinho Verde wines!
You can expect to discover a very rural and agricultural region - similar to Tràs-os-Montes - with old traditions very much alive and a landscape dotted with small villages and farming communities.
When to visit Minho
Early summer is a lovely time to visit and also mid Summer - but on the coast as it will be hotter inland. We visited in early October which was beautiful. It is a land known for its high rainfall, compared to other parts of southern Europe, but we didn’t see any rain!
Getting to and around Portugal’s Minho region
The closest airport to Portugal's Minho region is Porto, with the capital city of Braga just an hour away by car on the excellent A3/IP1 motorway, or an hour away by train. It’s best to hire a car, however, to enable you to fully explore the region, especially the inland area, which is quite remote, mountainous and rugged.
It is easy to drive between the main towns, with an excellent road and motorway network. It was our experience that everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming but be aware that not many people speak any other language than Portuguese!
What to see and do in Minho
The stunning ‘Bom Jesus do Monte’, outside Braga
Beautiful Ponte de Lima
The ancient city of Braga is Minho’s capital and as the seat of Portugal’s bishops for seven centuries, the country’s religious centre and is often referred to as the ‘Rome of Portugal’. The cathedral in the centre of the historic city is the oldest in Portugal and you cannot miss seeing the impressive ornate Baroque church of Bom Jesus do Monte, 5 km outside the centre and an important pilgrimage site.
Close to Braga is Portugal’s first capital city Guimarães, a wonderfully-preserved medieval city and where Portugal’s first king, Afonso Henrique, was born. You can visit the castle here, where he was crowned in 1139.
Other recommended places to visit include Barcelos, known for its huge weekly market, Valença do Minho on the Spanish border, known for its huge 17th century city walls, the picturesque coastal town of Viana do Castelo, Ponte de Lima, a pretty medieval town with a long, 31-arched Roman bridge and Ponte da Barca, one of the loveliest places in northern Portugal.
Peneda-Gerês National Park
The Peneda-Gerês National Park is a protected area and Portugal's only National Park and covers parts of both the Minho and Trás-os-Montes. The scenery is spectacular, the roads are winding and be prepared to take a journey back in time!
The stunning scenery in the Peneda-Gerês National Park
The local Laboreiro dog breed
See here for tour recommendations in Minho.
Vinho Verde Wine Tourism
Similar to other wine regions of Portugal, in recent years, Vinho Verde has witnessed a revolution in terms of wine tourism. Increasingly more wine producers now offer a range of wine tourism options, which focus on wine of course, but also combine leisure activities, nature and relaxation. You will find a wonderfully warm welcome wherever you visit in Vinho Verde and Minho.
The top destination in Vinho Verde is considered to be Quinta da Lixa and its Monverde wine experience Hotel in Amarante. Also see the 5 star boutique hotel, Torre de Gomariz. These are both excellent examples of the inexorable rise of wine tourism in Portugal!
Vinho Verde Wine routes
The Vinho Verde wine route is well marketed in the Minho region and helps in the planning of a Vinho Verde wine tour. You can choose from different themed routes, different types of wine tourism accommodation options, different wine producers and activities
Minho gastronomy
Sampling and appreciating local dishes and specialties is a core part of any wine tour and visiting Minho is no exception, where Vinhos Verdes wines pair perfectly with the local cuisine, be they light or heavier dishes.
Typical Minho dish of roasted cod
Portion sizes are usually large, with lots of meat including beef, veal, goat, pork, offal, hams and charcuterie; vegetables, salads, fish and seafood, especially ‘bacalhau’ (cod).
Specialities include:
Caldo verde - cabbage soup with chorizo sausage
Lamprey - an eel-like river fish
Sarrabulho - a stew containing pork, chicken or goat
Cabrito - roasted goat
Broa de Milho - chunky corn bread
As part of a tour of Portugal’s Vinho verde region, we ventured into the sub-region of ‘Basto’. Here we discovered the most amazing scenery, hospitality, history and of course, wines! We visited two very different wine and wine tourism estates and also spent time enjoying the amazing sights of the medieval city of Guimaraes.
Read all about our trip here…