Foral Alvarinho

This wine comes from Monção e Melgaço, the northernmost subzone of Portugal's Vinho Verde, tucked into the Minho River valley along the Spanish border. Protected by surrounding mountains, this pocket has long been considered the spiritual home of Alvarinho, where the grape reaches its fullest aromatic expression. Foral is made at Quinta do Regueiro, an estate whose first vineyard was planted in 1988 on a plot of just 0.3 hectares. Over the following decades, winemaker Paulo Rodrigues continued planting terraces overlooking the river, and today the fruit for this bottling comes from organically farmed old vines ranging roughly 35 to 50 years of age. That vine age is the whole story here. Where younger Alvarinho tends toward lean and cutting, these old vines give concentration and depth. The wine is fermented and aged on its lees, which builds a rounder, more textural palate. Expect aromas of citrus peel and oil, ripe stone fruit, and white flowers over a firm mineral spine, with a whisper of salinity and a long, refined finish. It drinks with real presence while holding onto the vibrant acidity that defines the region.