Esporao Bico Amarelo Red

We are delighted to introduce Bico Amarelo Red, the newest addition to Esporão’s popular Bico Amarelo range and an exciting independent-retail exclusive from Portugal’s Vinho Verde region.

Please note that this wine is currently available to pre-order, with delivery expected by the end of the week commencing 10 August.

Red Vinho Verde remains something of a discovery, and Bico Amarelo offers a particularly bright and approachable introduction to the style. Made from traditional northern Portuguese varieties, it is light in colour, low in alcohol and designed to be served slightly chilled. Fresh strawberry, redcurrant and raspberry flavours sit at the centre, supported by lively acidity, delicate tannins and a subtle herbal edge. Unlike the darker, more rustic red wines historically associated with the region, this is soft, juicy and immediately refreshing. There is no oak, added sweetness or artificial fizz—just vivid fruit and an energetic, uncomplicated character. It is an excellent choice for warm evenings, informal meals or anyone looking for a lighter alternative to richer Portuguese reds.

Producer – Esporão

Esporão is one of Portugal’s best-known family wine producers. Its modern story began in 1973, when José Roquette and Joaquim Bandeira acquired Herdade do Esporão near Reguengos de Monsaraz in the Alentejo. The first Esporão-branded wine was produced in 1985, and the company has since expanded beyond its original estate into the Douro and Vinho Verde regions.

Esporão’s work in Vinho Verde is centred around Quinta do Ameal, a historic property in the Lima Valley with records dating back to 1710. Bico Amarelo was created to represent the wider diversity of the region rather than a single vineyard or subregion. The range focuses on traditional grape varieties, straightforward winemaking and bright, refreshing wines that challenge some of the common assumptions surrounding Vinho Verde.

Esporão Bico Amarelo Red, Terroir & Winemaking

The grapes are sourced from different parts of the extensive Vinho Verde region in northern Portugal. Here, an Atlantic-influenced climate brings regular rainfall, cooling breezes and relatively moderate temperatures. These conditions encourage the grapes to retain lively acidity and fresh red-fruit aromas, even when fully ripe.

Bico Amarelo Red combines three local varieties: Espadeiro, Padeiro and Borraçal. The grapes are harvested by hand and fermented as whole bunches at controlled temperatures, with the cap of skins kept submerged during fermentation. This approach extracts colour, fragrance and gentle structure while preserving the wine’s juicy character.

After pressing in a pneumatic press, the wine completes malolactic fermentation and matures in stainless-steel tanks for approximately four months. No oak is used, allowing the fresh fruit and natural character of the varieties to remain the focus. The wine is made without added carbonation or sugar.

Esporão Bico Amarelo Red, Tasting Notes

Light cherry-red in colour with an attractive, translucent appearance. The nose is fresh and expressive, opening with strawberry, raspberry and redcurrant, followed by delicate notes of sour cherry, violet and leafy herbs.

The palate is light-bodied but surprisingly rounded, with juicy red fruit supported by bright acidity and soft, barely noticeable tannins. A subtle peppery and herbal character brings extra interest, while the low alcohol keeps the wine energetic and highly drinkable. The finish is persistent and refreshing, leaving lingering flavours of red berries and gentle savoury spice.

Phil says:

“I have been really excited to get this in since trying it in Portugal. This style of wine is super rare, it rarely leaves the area. When I was out there I had it as sopa de cavalo cansado, which translates as “soup of the hungry horse.” This is the wine, mixed with bread and sugar. I wouldn’t recommend it, but it gives you an idea of how fun this wine is, and why it is almost never available outside the area as it is consumed in its entirety locally. Where this wine shines, is chilled, on it’s own in the sun or with grilled meats, but it can also go with things like squid and tuna. The wine still has tannin and structure, so it is not a wishy washy chilled red. If there is one wine to buy this summer, honestly it is this!”