Casa do Arrabalde Vinho Verde 2023

Casa do Arrabalde — located in the Baião subregion of Vinho Verde — lies close to the Douro border. The five-hectare property was established several generations ago, though the current estate was founded in 1991 when Alexandre Gomes and his wife Dialina replanted the vineyards. The property was converted to organic farming in 2019. The vineyards are planted to local varieties Avesso, Arinto and Alvarinho in soils of well-drained granite. In the cellar, grapes are hand-sorted, destemmed, fermented with native yeasts and aged in stainless-steel tanks. The Gomes' goal is to craft honest, transparent wines with a sense of place that emphasize the finesse and quality of the fruit.

Casa do Arrabalde's Vinho Verde is composed of a blend of Arinto and Avesso, sitting in the glass a pale straw yellow. Captivatingly aromatic, this Vinho Verde dazzles the senses with mouthwatering notes of citrus-washed orchard fruit on the nose coupled with a mist of sea spray. The palate is invigorating, presenting a cascade of green apple and just-ripe pear zested with lemon peel. These fruit flavors are complemented by a piquant acidity that helps ferry this branco toward a saline-laced finish. This is the perfect wine to pair with fish tacos... whether battered cod or grilled mahi, this wine is a wonderful foil for this delicious street fare.