Lively yet Sustainable: 2018 Esporão Colheita Branco

Made by a large, innovative, family-owned company with organically certified grapes from their own vineyards. Most Portuguese white wines are blends that may vary slightly with each vintage, and this is no exception, though the main varieties in this wine are listed: antão vaz, viosinho and alvarinho.

The wine has a lime-like acidity and minerality that begins in the aroma and continues throughout the palate, even into the long finish. This is a lively wine that will wake up your taste buds – especially now, in the heat of summer.

SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT: Growing organic grapes, and part of the sustainable cork-growing ecosystem of Alentejo, Esporão is also a member of the Wines of Alentejo Sustainability Program (WASP). Launched in 2015, the organization has seen a 400% increase in member wineries in only five years. WASP is one of the European Union’s Rural Innovation Ambassadors for 2020.

WHO: Herdade do Esporão

WHAT: Antão Vaz, Viosinho, Alvarinho [along with small amounts of other grapes]

WHERE: Alentejo, Portugal

HOW MUCH: $15 (media sample)