Passionada Alvarinho 2021

When the Portuguese want a refreshing, sophisticated white wine, they turn to Alvarinho (aka Albariño in Spain). And savvy wine fans seek out the premium examples from iconic winemaker Anselmo Mendes (shown below)—like Passionada Alvarinho 2021.

Anselmo might be too humble to brag about his accomplishments, but we’ll do it for him. In 2011, Revista dos Vinhos named him Best Winemaker and Producer. The Wine Advocate is a fan, too, writing, “One of the region’s biggest names, Anselmo provides both well-priced value wines and high-end quality.”

Anselmo crafted Passionada at his beautiful estate, which was rated one of Wine & Spirits’ Top 100 Wineries of 2017, in the Vinho Verde region. Passionada is a step above the light and breezy Vinho Verde that most wine fans know. It’s seriously elegant, with a lovely creamy weight thanks to a few months’ lees aging. And we’re not the only ones who think so...

Gilbert & Gaillard judges awarded it a gold medal and wrote, “Nose of citrus fruits (lemons, red grapefruits) and a touch of mown grass. A remarkably smooth Vinho Verde with delicate acidity and exquisite fruit. A delicious wine to awaken the taste buds then serve with raw fish.”

If you’re a fan of “intellectually interesting and tasty” white wines (that’s The Wine Advocate raving about Anselmo’s wines again), then you simply must try Passionada Alvarinho.