Castelo Rodrigo Branco

Varietals: Siria, Fonte Cal, Rabigato, Malvasia Fina

ABV: 13%

The Story: With the majestic Marofa Mountain as an astonishing an breathtaking background, and between the valleys of the rivers Côa and Águeda, which flow into the neighbouring Douro River, we find the beautiful and picturesque village of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo. It has been recognized as a wine tradition village where high quality wines have been being produced for over 1000 years. It was during the 12th century that the cistercian monks, who inhabited the nearby convent of Santa Maria de Aguiar, started the cultivation of vineyards and placed all their knowledge and mastery inte production of wines of excellence. Today, Castelo Rodrigo's winery is assumed as the heir of their knowlodge and art. Founded as a cooperative in 1956 by 154 members, it currently has 350. Every Year, on harvest season, the cellar receives approximately 6.5 million Kg of grapes obtaining a production of about 4.8 million liters of wine of which about 55% is white and the remaining 45% is red. The cellar belongs to the demarcated region of "Beira Interior" in the sub-region of Castelo Rodrigo, characterized by a continental/mediterranean climate with soils of shales and sandstones prevail. In the case of white grapes the predominant varieties are: Síria, Malvasia Fina, Arinto e Fonte Cal and in the case of red grapes we have the Mourisco, the Marufo, the Rufete, the Touriga Nacional and the Tinta Roriz.

Personality: Dry. Medium-plus body. Lemon, lime, wild fennel, lightly briny in that dirty-martini way. Saline finish with a touch of classic oxidative tones that imbue typicity and character.

Harmony: Tapas with seafood will do quite nicely!