Casa da Tojeira 'Tojeira' Brut Sparkling Reserva Rosé 2023

Casa da Tojeira 'Tojeira' Brut Sparkling Reserva Rosé 2023

An elegant, beautifully refreshing sparkling rosé from the mountainous Basto subregion of Vinho Verde, made entirely from the little-known Portuguese grape Padeiro. With delicate red berries, refreshing acidity and wonderfully fine bubbles, it's a delightful expression of traditional-method Portuguese sparkling wine.

Casa da Tojeira Brut Sparkling Reserva Rosé comes from Faia, near Cabeceiras de Basto, where vineyards surround a magnificent 17th-century manor house in the heart of northern Portugal. Made from 100% Padeiro, a traditional red grape native to the Vinho Verde region, this beautifully expressive sparkling rosé celebrates one of Portugal's lesser-known indigenous varieties.

The wine undergoes a second fermentation inside the bottle using the traditional method, followed by a period of cellar ageing that develops its elegant bubbles and refined texture.

In the glass, expect a delicate pink colour with inviting aromas of fresh strawberries, raspberries, red berries and subtle floral notes. On the palate, it's dry, elegant and beautifully refreshing, with lively acidity, fine bubbles and a wonderfully harmonious finish.

It's a lovely example of how Portugal's indigenous grapes can produce sparkling wines that are every bit as interesting as those made from more internationally familiar varieties.

What makes Padeiro special?

Padeiro is one of the lesser-known indigenous red grapes of northern Portugal, traditionally grown in the Vinho Verde region, particularly around Basto.

Its name translates literally as "baker" in Portuguese, although the precise origin of the grape's name is uncertain.

Padeiro is especially interesting because, unlike the deeply coloured and intensely acidic Vinhão, it tends to produce lighter-coloured, more delicate wines, making it particularly well suited to rosé production.

Typical characteristics include fresh strawberry, raspberry, red cherry and delicate floral aromas, accompanied by refreshing acidity and a light, elegant structure.

Historically, Padeiro was often used in traditional regional blends, but its naturally delicate colour and bright fruit character have made it particularly appealing to producers creating fresh, expressive rosés.

And when used to make traditional-method sparkling wine, its lively acidity provides the freshness needed to balance the bubbles, while its gentle red fruit character adds a lovely aromatic dimension.

Casa da Tojeira's sparkling rosé is a wonderful opportunity to discover this fascinating grape in its own right, rather than simply as part of a blend.

How does sparkling rosé get its colour?

One of the most interesting things about rosé is that the colour comes primarily from the grape skins, not simply from using red grapes.

Most red grapes have clear juice, with their colour coming from pigments found in their skins.

For rosé, winemakers carefully control the amount of colour extracted, producing everything from the palest salmon pink to deeper shades of rose.

Padeiro is particularly well suited to this style because of its naturally delicate colour and bright red fruit character.

By limiting the extraction of colour and tannins, winemakers can preserve the grape's fresh, elegant personality while creating a beautifully coloured rosé.

The result is a wine that combines the delicate fruit character of a traditional Portuguese red grape with the freshness and elegance of sparkling wine.

Aroma: Strawberry · Raspberry · Red Cherry · Delicate Florals

Palate: Dry · Fine Bubbles · Refreshing Acidity · Elegant Texture · Harmonious Finish

Pair with: Smoked Salmon · Grilled Shrimp · Sushi · Charcuterie · Fresh Salads · Soft Cheeses · Light Seafood Dishes