2022 Quinta da Pedra Alvarinho Graca da Pedra (750ml)

Quinta da Pedra is one of the historic estates of Portugal's Alto Minho, with roots reaching back to the seventeenth century. The property sits in Monção e Melgaço, the sub-region of Vinho Verde most closely associated with fine Alvarinho, and today forms part of the Fladgate Partnership, the group behind Taylor's Port, marking one of its first steps into still DOC wine. Graça da Pedra serves as the estate's younger, more approachable expression of the grape, alongside its more refined sibling, Milagres.

The vineyards are planted at high density on pure granite soils, farmed entirely dry-grown to concentrate flavor, with gentle slopes and full sun exposure that suit Alvarinho especially well. The 2022 growing season brought Portugal's driest winter since 1931, along with a scorching, record-setting May and July, though the harvest still delivered strong quality by early September. In the cellar, the grapes undergo a lightly chilled pre-fermentation maceration and gentle pressing, then ferment in temperature-controlled stainless steel before resting six to nine months ahead of bottling.

The wine shows bright yellow with a greenish tinge, opening to fresh citrus, mandarin, and stone fruit. Medium-bodied with vibrant acidity and a silky texture, it finishes long and mineral. It's an excellent match for grilled fish or a seafood platter.