Vinho Verde Makes Being Green Easy

Vinho verde is a wine varietal originating in the Minho region of northern Portugal. Translated as "Green wine," it's a reference to the wine's age. Vinho verde can be either white, red or rosé. But what differentiates it from other Portuguese wines is its effervescence. Vinho verdes have a definite pétillance, or fizziness, to them (typically under 1 bar CO2) caused by secondary malolactic fermentation. But they aren't classified as sparkling wines.

This fizziness, and their high acidity, make vinho verde a nice pairing for sushi (try some pieces of nigiri without soy or wasabi with some vinho verde. It's an eye-opener.), bright fruits, or dishes with cream cheese (like mousses or some lighter terrines). Vinho verde is made to be enjoyed young; they're best to drink within a year of bottling. you can read the label and determine the age of a vinho verde. On the back of the bottle is a serial number, followed by a slash, then a date. That date tells you the year in which the wine was bottled. The wine is always bottled after January, so if the number reads 8675309/2007, then you have a wine that was bottled last year.

Vinho verdes are also very inexpensive - you shouldn't be paying more than eight dollars for a good bottle. One exception is Porto do Fidalgo Alvarinho, which has a flavor profile teeming with melons, minerals and pears, and is near-bone dry on the palate. The 2005 vintage runs $9.99, but it's so well-crafted that it's worth checking out. Another bottle to try is Aveleda Vinho Verde NV. Presented in a classic bottle meant to invoke images of Alsatian rieslings, this wine is kept under careful temperature control during production. What you get is a lot of subtle fruit on the palate and a clean sparkling fizz that tickles your palate, akin to a frizzante. It costs $7.99 a bottle at Sam's.