With the price of food and fuel rising right along with those summer temperatures we waited so long for, we could all use a decent bottle of inexpensive wine to sweeten the sting and cool us down.
I recently stumbled upon this wine and confess I hesitated to buy it simply because I hated the label. However, as someone who constantly preaches, “You can’t judge a book by its cover,” I followed my own advice and voila! Twin Vines Vinho Verde is now one of my new favorite summer wines, and for only $7!
Twin Vines hails from the Minho region in the far northern corner of Portugal and is named after Fronseca’s twin daughters. Vinho Verde in Portuguese literally means “Green Wine,” a term that refers to its youthful freshness rather than its color.
The wine also has an element of petillance, a French term meaning “slightly sparkling.” This light effervescence is caused by a secondary (malolactic) fermentation. This is a natural process during which beneficial bacteria convert the malic (very tart) acid in a wine to lactic (softer tasting) acid. Malolactic fermentation can take place on its own or be prompted by the winemaker.
Twin Vines is made from 42 percent Loureiro, 39 percent Trajadura and 19 percent Pederna grapes that are stainless steel-fermented and temperature-controlled with absolutely no addition of oak, making this wine light on its toes and vividly refreshing. And at only 10 percent alcohol, you can pour a second glass without concern.
On the nose, there are lively, honeyed aromas of fresh floral and citrus that include hints of winter melon, just-cut zucchini, cucumber juice, green apple skins, white flowers and Key lime rind. In the mouth, this wine is zippy on the palate and slightly prickly with freshly crushed northern gooseberries, white currants, honeydew melon, Granny Smith apples, lime zest, citrus peel and powerful hints of minerals. It finishes with a nice zingy and lively note of lemon drop and apple cider. Its razor-sharp acidity and ocean freshness make it a great aperitif or a perfect partner for everything from fried veggies to fresh shrimp by the pool. Or try it with fresh clams and mussels braised in garlic and wine, shellfish paella or tuna tartar.
You can find this wine at CVS, Good Food Store, Pattee Creek Market and Worden’s. And because this wine is young, fun and fresh - at a price that will leave some green in your wallet - you may want to pick up a case. It will disappear faster than you think.
Kate Murphy is the wine writer for the Missoulian and Missoula.com magazine. Check out her blog at KnowYourVino.com. She can be reached at (406) 523-0486 or by e-mail at kate.murphy@missoulian.com.
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