Vera

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Country of Origin: Portugal
Location: Cabeceiras de Basto
People: Patrick Mata & Alberto Orte, Owners | Made expressly for Vinos Atlántico

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Launched with the 2010 vintage, Vera Vinho Verde was created to redefine expectations for one of Portugal's most recognizable wine styles. At a time when much of the category emphasized sweetness and pronounced carbonation, Vera set out to produce a more terroir-driven expression using exclusively estate-grown fruit, lower residual sugar, and only a subtle spritz. The result is a fresher, more refined Vinho Verde that highlights the region's distinctive character. By minimizing residual sugar and excessive carbonation, Vera delivers a clean, elegant expression of the region that pairs effortlessly with food and reflects the modern face of Portuguese winemaking.

Vinho Verde has long been woven into Portuguese culture. During the 1950s and 1960s, as soft drinks such as Coca-Cola began entering the market, the Portuguese government, supported by the wine industry, resisted their growing influence. Vinho Verde emerged as the everyday alternative, prized for its light alcohol, lively freshness, and gentle effervescence, making it the perfect companion for casual lunches and social gatherings.

Terroir Information
Vera is produced at Casa do Valle in the Basto subregion of Vinho Verde, approximately 47 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean. Unlike the cooler, more maritime areas closer to the coast, Basto enjoys a slightly warmer, drier climate while still benefiting from the region's abundant rainfall. Surrounded by mountains and divided by the Tâmega River, the estate experiences cool, damp winters followed by mild springs and summers that encourage slow, even ripening.

The vineyards are planted on granite soils, with vines ranging from 10 to 35 years of age. Casa do Valle farms approximately 55 hectares (136 acres) of estate vineyards spread across more than 140 individual parcels, all harvested entirely by hand. Sustainable farming practices, including organic methods, are employed throughout the estate, and every bottle of Vera is produced exclusively from estate-grown fruit.