Douro Valley is a stunning wine region with terraced vineyards cut into steep hillsides.
Vintegrity’s mission has always been to bring world-class wines from the world’s foremost wine regions to restaurants and retailers in Missouri and Kansas. Portugal ranks high among those storied areas, boasting a history of viticulture that rivals that of France and Italy. In fact, the Douro Valley is the world’s oldest demarcated wine region, with that distinction awarded in 1756.
Vintegrity is excited to add four new Portuguese wines to its portfolio. Keep reading below for more information about these recent additions.
A Touriga Vai Nua
Winemaker António Maçanita showcases a deep understanding of terroir, past and present, within his vineyards through A Touriga Vai Nua, or “The Touriga Goes Naked.” Crafted with Portugal’s most popular grape, Touriga Naçional, Maçanita honors its traditional slate characteristics, yet keeps it light and versatile through partial carbonic maceration and a three-month stainless steel élevage.
This rich, dark wine elegantly balances fresh berry and plum notes with those of mineral, anise, and rose petal. The palate is intense and lush, with black fruit, floral, and slate flavors followed by a long white pepper finish.
A Laranja Mecânica
A Laranja Mecânica means “a mechanical orange” and refers to Maçanita’s introduction of a press into the process of making this wine. This orange wine does not rely solely on passive skin contact. After partially pressing and resting a small portion of the juice inside the skins for a week, the process is completed with a second pressing, which is used exclusively to make this rustic yet elegant wine.
This exciting, vivacious, and exuberant wine introduces multiple textures to the palate, with bright notes of candied orange and quince on the nose. Its playful intensity makes it an excellent accompaniment to cheese and foie gras.
Maçanita Touriga Naçional Em Rosé
This wine was created by Maçanita’s sister, Joana, who prioritized freshness and minerality as she meticulously sourced fruit from high-altitude vineyards across several subzones of the Douro Valley. The resulting wine carries a bright acidity that showcases the floral and mineral characteristics of Touriga.
The nose cannot miss the distinct notes of crushed strawberry, Bing cherry, and cherry blossom. The palate is fresh and juicy, combining the sweet and sour flavors of those fruits with a touch of white pepper.
Maçanita Branco
Once again, Joana sourced high-altitude fruit for this Douro wine, this time with the Viosinho grape taking center stage. It spotlights an elegant and refined minerality, a hallmark of the Valley’s slate soils and high elevations. Stainless steel fermentation and aging boost Maçanita Branco’s freshness and acidity.
This wine carries summery aromas of ripe yellow and green tree fruit with a hint of slate. The palate is concentrated, yet fresh with bright flavors of golden apple, pear, and white pepper.
