Quinta Cova da Raposa ‘Alvarinho Vinho Regional Minho’ 2020

Vinho Regional Minho Alvarinho

The Alvarinho is native to the Northeast of Portugal and nearby Spanish Galicia, where the grape is called Albariñho. It is the oldest planted white grape variety in Spain and Portugal. There are even small plots with plants of 200 to 300 years old. A good Alvarinho has both floral and fruity notes. Linden blossom, orange and acacia blossom, honeysuckle, dried orange peel and grapefruit.

The Fox Den

Quinta Cova da Raposa, literally the fox’s den, is a small certified organic winery just outside Braga. Braga is located along the banks of the Minho River, the heart of the Vinho Verde. The Quinta saw the light in 1997 and from day one the focus point was to restore nature in the vineyards and on the estate. In addition to grapes, fruit, vegetables, and herbs were also planted on the granite-rich slopes. And even beehives to produce lovely homemade honey.

The winery owns 3 hectares of granite-sandy soil with southern exposure. The focus is on the indigenous varieties Avesso and Alvarinho. About 7000 litres of each are produced per vintage. Since 2017, no sulfites are added to the wines. To maintain optimal freshness, winemakers Manuel Taxa and Elisabete Raposo ferment the juice in temperature-regulating steel tanks. The focus is on quality and low yields. Since 2016, the wines are bottled on their own domain.