Quinta de Carapeços, Oaked Alvarinho, Vinho Verde

Kernowine is the exclusive importer of Quinta de Carapeços wines into the UK - please email del@kernowine.co.uk for more information.

Wine Type: White

Grape(s): Alvarinho

Country: Portugal

Region: Vinho Verde

Organic: No (Sustainable farming)

Vegan: Non-certified

ABV: 14.5%

Winery: The first reference to Quinta de Carapeços dates back to 1338, the year in which one of the daughters of Martim Carvalho, Knight de Basto, married João de Carapeços, lord of the "Quinta" (estate) with the same name. In 1351, the property was sold and, in the early 17th Century, it became part of the Monastery of São Salvador de Travanca, which had been founded in the mid-12th century by Benedictine monks. With the extinction of the religious orders in 1834, the Quinta was sold and is currently owned by a descendant of the aforementioned Martim Carvalho.

A lawyer by profession, Miguel Pereira de Abreu has always had a great passion for the world of wine, a result of his family's ancestral connection to agricultural properties located in Amarante, Felgueiras and Penafiel.

Responding to the enormous transformations that have taken place in the rural world since the 1960s and 70s, the company undertook a profound restructuring of its land management, initially focusing on the production of top-quality grapes. To achieve this, he converted the entire agricultural area by creating
platforms for planting vines in rows (thus replacing the traditional trellises) and introducing grape varieties better adapted to the conditions of the "terroir". He was a pioneer in introducing Alvarinho outside the Melgaço-Monção sub-region.

At the beginning of this century, and after the installation of a winery equipped with the latest technologies available, the current brand was born in 2003. The Quinta produces high-quality white, rosé, red, sparkling, and late harvest wines that have earned numerous national and international awards over the years. The vineyards are spread over 20 hectares, allowing a yearly production of around 140,000 bottles.

Winemaking: Harvest was by hand, after which the grapes were transported in 15 kg baskets to the winery. After arriving at the cellar, the grapes were destemed. They were pressed softly after 6 hours of cold skin maceration followed by alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel vats. The wine was aged for 9 months in French oak barrels and stainless steel vats on its fine lees.

Tasting Notes: This is a full-bodied and complex wine, with citrus and tropical fruit notes, with a soft mouth feel and a slight touch of sweet oak wood and a long and persistent finish.

Food pairing: Perfect served with soft cheeses, white meat, fish and salads.