Asnella Vinho Verde

60% Arinto, 40% Loureiro. Asnella is a single vineyard Vinho Verde that exposes an unexplored side of the Vinho Verde DOC. In addition to the delicious, lightly effervescent aperitif-style wines that are most frequently exported from this part of Northern Portugual, there is a whole category of terroir-driven, artisan wines that has heretofore gone unnoticed. The vineyard where Asnella is grown is on the border between the Southern side of the Vinho Verde DOC and the Northern edge of the Douro. This vineyard a fault line that separates two very different soil types – the schist of the Northern Douro and the granite of the Douro, as noted on either side of the label. The blend of these two parcels in the vineyard imbues the wine with a profound minerality and weight uncommon for Vinho Verde. Asnella is a singular expression of terroir that is a major departure from what most people associate with Vinho Verde. It shows remarkable concentration, length and minerality. This unique vineyard allows for an exposition of two different soil types and their effects on the resultant wine. The granite lends richness and weight, while the schist gives minerality, lift and precision.