Price: $7
Maker: Jose Maria da Fonseca Vinhos, Azeita-Setubal, Portugal
Varietal: Vinho Verde – White
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, screw cap
Alcohol: 10.0%
Our Rating: 8.1 out of 10
Despite its name, which translates as “green wine,” Twin Vines JM Fonseca Vinho Verde 2008 is a very pale straw color. The “green” refers to its youthful nature rather than its color, and the wine does indeed come across as young. In the glass, it appears to be slightly sparkling, although one barely notices the minimal bubbly character when drinking. It has a green apple flavor, and a slight sweetness is offset by pleasing acidity. There’s not a lot too this wine, but on a hot day by the pool its light character and low alcohol content might make it a perfect choice. The label suggests serving the wine well chilled, and I agree entirely with that advice.
This Vinho Verde is a product of José Maria da Fonseca, a Portuguese winery owned by the same family for nearly 200 years. The firm is best known in the U.S. for its iconic, if not always well-loved, Lancers brand Rosé. Wines desginated as Vinho Verde all come from the north of Portugal and are made from diverse grapes found in the region.
My timing for tasting this wine was nearly perfect – the culmination of a series of 100-degree days in Texas. That’s the ideal setting for a light, gulpable white with a hint of bubbliness and an acidic bite.