Vinho Verde was a staple wine in the 1960s and ‘70s – a name which was readily pronounceable, and a wine that was reliably drinkable and as much a brand as Mateus Rosé or Chablis were. Fashion changes, and with the advent of Chardonnay and the wines from the Southern Hemisphere, Vinho Verde fell out of flavour. Nearly half a century later, the resurgence of this light and crisp, northern Portuguese wine gathers apace, and we think that João’s very latest creation from the region of Monção e Melgaço justifies this revitalised interest. The fresh, citrusy and floral aromas of the Loureiro grape combine elegantly with the pronounced minerality in the mouth, and gives a long, intense finish.