2025 Quinta da Raza - Vinho Verde Padeiro Rose Dom Diogo (750ml)

This single-varietal rosé is made entirely from Padeiro, a rare grape once on the verge of extinction and grown almost nowhere outside the Vinho Verde region. Padeiro's pale must made it unfashionable for red wine production, and plantings dwindled until Quinta da Raza's owner, Diogo Teixeira Coelho, took up a regional challenge in the late twentieth century to replant the variety and save it from disappearing. What the grape lacked in color, it more than made up for in aroma and harmony, particularly in rosé form.

Quinta da Raza itself is a family winery in the Vinho Verde region, set in the Basto subregion on an unusual mix of granite, schist, and clay soils. The estate has been in the same family since the seventeenth century, and today's owner Diogo continues that legacy, blending modern winemaking with traditional technique.

In the glass, the wine glows a bright strawberry pink, with an intense bouquet of red fruit, especially fresh raspberry. Expect a deep-pink color from minimal skin contact, with flavors of strawberry, honeysuckle, and melon over a creamy body. On the palate it's lively and spritzy, juicy, and pleasantly light, finishing dry at a modest 12% alcohol.

Serve well chilled as a porch or picnic wine, alongside shellfish, cured meats, or light appetizers.