Van Zellers & Co. was established in 1620 when the family immigrated to Portugal from the Netherlands making them one of the oldest port wine families in the country. By the 1800's, the Van Zellers were one of the most important port families throughout the Douro. The brand was sold under the the umbrella of Quinta do Noval until Cristiano van Zeller, his wine family's 14th generation, acquired the brand and making it an independent company through its revival in 1989. The estate farms 16 hectares which is almost completely planted to red varietals. Just one hectare is planted to indigenous white varietals that are used to produce Van Zellers & Co.'s branco which debuted in 2006. The estate's goal is to carefully nurturing their old vineyards to grow exceptional, indigenous grapes which allow them to craft wines that speak to the terroir of the Douro.

Van Zellers & Co 2020 VZ Douro White is crafted with indigenous Douro grapes (Arinto, Codega, Gouveio, Rabigato and Viosinho) which are fermented, then aged for nine months in new and one year old French oak barrels. Captivatingly aromatic, the VZ branco offers a eye-fluttering bouquet of citrus-washed stone and tropical fruits mixed with hints of orange blossoms and almonds. The clean and crisp palate presents waves of apple, pineapple and lemon zest enveloped around a core of lively acid and subtle minerality. Though quite fresh, this white possesses a slightly rounded mouthfeel which helps usher those fruits toward a dazzling and lengthy finish. This wine will pair lovely with a variety of seafood or light meat dishes. Try with grilled or fried sardines, steamed stone crab with drawn butter or roast pork tenderloin with scalloped potatoes.