A great wine for a summer night

A typical day in Baltimore brings temperatures in the low to mid 90’s and humidity that at times seems to defy the laws of chemistry. Though the hot and humid days tend to lead to warm, muggy nights, we love to be outside, having a nice glass of wine and grilling our favorite fish and meats. What better way to chill off than enjoying a nice, chilled glass of our favorite white wine?

It’s on these evenings that I reach into the fridge and grab a bottle of perfectly chilled Vinho Verde. It’s a crisp, refreshing wine from the region with the same name on the northwestern coast of Portugal. These non-sparkling wines undergo a secondary malolactic fermentation that results in some petillance (bubbles). The cool Atlantic breeze and unique terroir create conditions that are ideal for growing the many grape varieties that you find in Vinho Verde. The typical varieties used include:

• Alvarinho
• Loureiro
• Avesso
• Trajadura

My two favorite Vinho Verdes are Quinto do Ferro Avesso (2005) and Aveleda Alvarinho (2005). Both can be found for under $14 and are a real treat. The Quinto do Ferro is a single varietal of the Avesso grape (hence the name) and displays a brilliant straw color and offers pear, citrus, apple, and a bit of jasmine. The Aveleda is 100% Alvarinho, making it dry and filling it with tropical fruits, spice and some peach.

I recommend either of these, nice and chlled and served young. They are quite the treat on a warm summer night. If you have any other Vinho Verde, or summer wine recommendations, leave a comment!