Carneiro 'Foral de Atei' Azal 2024
A beautifully crisp and expressive Azal from the mountainous Basto subregion of Vinho Verde, combining delicate orange blossom, vibrant green fruit and a distinctive saline finish, with a story stretching back more than 500 years.
Carneiro's Foral de Atei Azal comes from the picturesque village of Atei, near Mondim de Basto, where the Carneiro family produces wines that celebrate the history and character of their homeland. Made from 100% Azal, one of Vinho Verde's lesser-known indigenous white grapes, this wine is a wonderful expression of the freshness and minerality that make the region so special.
The grapes are harvested by hand before being gently pressed and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. There's no oak ageing or malolactic fermentation, allowing the grape's natural freshness and delicate aromatics to take centre stage.
In the glass, expect a bright, lively citrus colour with beautiful aromas of orange blossom and fresh green fruit. On the palate, it's dry, crisp and beautifully balanced, with refreshing acidity, delicate fruit and a wonderfully long, slightly salty finish. At 12% ABV, it's a vibrant yet elegant white that pairs particularly well with seafood.
What makes Azal special?
Azal is one of Portugal's traditional indigenous white grape varieties, particularly associated with the inland Basto subregion of Vinho Verde.
Although relatively unfamiliar outside Portugal, Azal was once one of the most important white grapes in Vinho Verde. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was widely planted throughout the region, before gradually becoming less prominent as other varieties gained popularity.
What makes Azal particularly interesting is its naturally high acidity and relatively late ripening. While other grapes may struggle to retain freshness in warmer conditions, Azal can produce wonderfully crisp wines with distinctive green apple, citrus and mineral characteristics.
It's now frequently used in blends to contribute freshness and structure, but when bottled on its own, as the Carneiro family does here, it reveals a lovely personality of its own.
And Azal is especially well suited to Basto. The warmer inland summers help the grape reach full ripeness, while its naturally high acidity keeps the resulting wines lively and refreshing.
What does Foral de Atei mean?
This is where the wine's story becomes particularly interesting.
A foral was a royal charter granted by Portuguese monarchs to towns and communities, establishing their legal rights, privileges and responsibilities.
In 1514, the village of Atei received its own royal charter, an important milestone in the community's history.
More than five centuries later, Alberto and Cristiana Carneiro chose to celebrate that heritage by naming this wine Foral de Atei, paying tribute to the village where their family's winemaking story began.
And the connection doesn't stop with the name.
The beautiful label was created by Vasco Mota, an illustrator and urban sketch artist originally from Atei. His pen-and-watercolour artwork depicts the village with Monte Farinha rising in the background, capturing one of the most recognisable features of the local landscape.
It's a lovely example of how a wine label can tell a story about the people and place behind the bottle.
What makes Basto special?
Basto is the most inland of Vinho Verde's subregions, where the lush Atlantic-influenced landscape begins to meet the mountainous interior of northern Portugal.
The region is characterised by granite-rich soils, relatively high elevations and a more continental climate than the coastal areas of Vinho Verde.
Winters can be cold and rainy, while summers are often considerably warmer and drier. These conditions help grapes develop ripe, expressive flavours while maintaining the refreshing acidity for which Vinho Verde is famous.
The Tâmega River winds through the landscape, while the mountains provide a dramatic backdrop to vineyards and villages that have been producing wine for centuries.
For Azal, these conditions are particularly well suited to producing wines with both aromatic character and vibrant freshness.
About Carneiro Family Wines
Carneiro Family Wines is a small, family-run winery in Atei, in the Basto subregion of Vinho Verde, founded in 2004 by husband-and-wife team Alberto and Cristiana Carneiro.
Neither originally came from a professional winemaking background, but their passion for the family's vineyards inspired them to retrain and dedicate themselves to producing wines that celebrate their homeland.
Today, Alberto looks after the vineyards while Cristiana is responsible for winemaking, making this a genuinely family-led project from grape to bottle.
The couple's love for their family and village is reflected throughout their wines, particularly in the thoughtful stories behind their labels.
Their Luz range is named after their daughter, while Tordo takes its name from a bird associated with the number three—a nod to the couple's three children.
Foral de Atei celebrates something equally personal: the village, its history and the landscape that shaped the family.
The winery is committed to sustainable viticulture and vegan-friendly winemaking, working with traditional Portuguese grape varieties including Azal, Arinto, Alvarinho and Loureiro.
It's a wonderful example of a small Portuguese producer making wines that aren't simply expressions of a grape variety, but also celebrations of family, history and place.
Aroma: Orange Blossom · Green Apple · Citrus · Fresh Green Fruit
Palate: Dry · Crisp · Vibrant Acidity · Mineral · Saline · Long Finish
Pair with: Oysters · Grilled shrimp · Clams · Grilled white fish · Seafood rice · Sushi · Roast chicken
