Viva the Vs! Vinho Verde and Verdelho wines!

We think summer is the perfect time for drinking Rosés and bright acidic Albarinos and Italian Pigatos along with other Ligurian whites. Not so fast you cock-a-roaches. Please say hello to my little friends from Portugal and Southern Spain Рthe Vees of white wines. tBoW was awash in these copa Blancos or as they say in Portugal copa Brrrranco for two breakneck weeks. Thank goodness this corner of Europe believes in late lunch washed down with a bright, crisp well-chilled white wine that tastes like nothing we have ever had. Albarino has more acid and a rice-like quality. These V wines are pure citrus. Vinho Verde comes from Portugal and is leaner than Verdelho which comes from Spain which is more gentle but only by comparison. Verdelho would dance the flamenco on your typical Sauvignon Blanc.

We do consider the setting which was usually on a plaza under a road umbrella looking at 14th century architecture.
The typical Calabasas outdoor mall even if it is built to inspire visions of a Southern Europe plaza, or more likely piazza, is not a suitable stand in. So you buy these, chill them down and consume the bottles in your back yard. Ask some friends over. Do not swirl or sniff. Quaff. Refill. If you want to get really inspired serve with a saffron-soaked arroz con mariscos.

It is not easy to find these wines. They are decidedly not favored by my typical wine retail haunts. Of course Steve Goldun’s Palate has a great Vinho Verde that comes frizzante. However, some of the best V wines purchased for this report were found at Cost Plus/World Market. Good news is these wines are unfashionable the prices can stand up to a double dip economy and a dollar getting hammered by the Euro.

2010 Gazela Vinho Verde $6: Pretty bottle with colorful graphic. Fabulously flavored juice that is all lime and sunshine. Clear as a new melt mountain stream and that fresh, too. Straight from the Algarve. Back up the truck to Wold Market and load up. I have run out of words so here are those of another blogger: “Odds and ends: Vinho verde, or “green wine,” is made from grapes grown on vines that crawl up trees, poles and high fences. It is a handy choice for St. Patrick’s Day. It can be made with two grape varietals: the Alvarinho, which is the same as the Albarino grown in Spain and Portugal, and the Loureiro. When it comes to vinho verde, we want that classic crisp and almost fizzy characteristic for drinking well-chilled to quench our thirst on one of these lovely spring days.” Well there you are. 10%

2010 Vidonya Vinho Verde $8: A bit more pricey but the difference in quality is…$2. Not as limey stony. Closer to a Spanish Verdelho. Lovely. Worth the extra $2 just to try it. 9%

2010 Aveleda Fonte $6: Citric, chill icily! Lime and limestone. Puts the brrr in Brrranco. The high faluting wine mags stooped to rank this wine in the mid 80s. Killjoys. Great for the rest of us. Keeps the price down. 10%

2009 Esperao Verdelho $15: Fresh and green. Aromatic nose. Special Reserve line from the 1.3 million case Esperao winery visited in Evora Portugal. Quite delicious. Fragrant nose. Note the higher alcohol that is still acceptable and not noticeable. Great price point and lovely wine. 13.5%

2010 Grande Enoteca de Benalua Almarces Mancal Blanco $?? Not sure I have the label name correct. I did take notes. Spanish blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdelho, Moscato and Torrontes. Spicey nose. Green lime favors. We tasted this early on so our palates quickly adjusted to th lime and green-ness until we began to crave it. Mrs tBoW said “I really like white wines.” Ha. 13.5%