Bico Amarelo Vinho Verde​

Bico Amarelo Vinho Verde: Fresh, Bright and Properly Dry

Bico Amarelo is a brilliantly fresh Vinho Verde with a little more character than you might expect. Light, lively and packed with flavour, it brings together three classic Portuguese grapes – Loureiro, Alvarinho and Avesso – to make a dry, aromatic white with no added sugar or carbonation. In other words, this isn’t the sweet or slightly fizzy style that some people still associate with Vinho Verde.

The wine is made by Esporão’s team at Quinta do Ameal, a historic estate in Portugal’s Lima Valley with origins dating back to 1710. Quinta do Ameal is particularly well known for its work with Loureiro, a grape that thrives in this cooler, Atlantic-influenced corner of northern Portugal and is loved for its freshness and wonderfully aromatic character.

Unlike Quinta do Ameal’s estate wines, Bico Amarelo is not made solely from grapes grown on the property. Instead, the blend brings together Loureiro, Alvarinho and Avesso sourced for the wine, giving a broader expression of the Vinho Verde region. Loureiro brings fragrance and freshness, Alvarinho adds ripe fruit and concentration, while Avesso gives the wine a little more body and roundness.

The grapes are harvested by hand and pressed as whole bunches before fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel. The wine then spends time on its lees, adding a little extra texture while keeping the style clean, bright and refreshing.

In the glass it’s fresh and exuberant, with plenty of zesty citrus alongside juicy tropical fruit and a gentle floral edge. The palate is light but certainly not thin, with lively acidity, good volume and a clean, dry feel. There’s enough fruit to make it instantly easy to enjoy, while that bright acidity keeps everything crisp right through the long, refreshing finish.

About Bico Amarelo Vinho Verde:

• A blend of the Portuguese grapes Loureiro, Alvarinho and Avesso.
• Made without added sugar or carbonation for a fresh, dry and still style of Vinho Verde.
• The grapes are hand harvested and whole bunch pressed.
• Fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel and aged on the lees for added texture.
• Produced by Quinta do Ameal, a historic property whose origins date back to 1710.