Encosta d'Arêgos Blend White 2025
A wonderfully vibrant and refreshing white wine from the dramatic hillsides of Baião, where Vinho Verde meets the Douro Valley. Combining expressive orchard fruit, lively citrus and a delicate, intentional spritz, this charming Portuguese blend captures the freshness, character and joyful personality of northern Portugal.
Encosta d'Arêgos Blend White comes from the steep northern slopes overlooking the Douro River, near the village of Arêgos in the Baião subregion of Vinho Verde.
Produced by former banker turned winemaker Álvaro Monteiro Ribeiro, this wine brings together traditional Portuguese white grapes, including Avesso, Arinto and Alvarinho, to create a beautifully refreshing expression of the region.
Each grape contributes something different. Avesso brings ripe orchard fruit and a rounded texture, Arinto adds vibrant citrus and refreshing acidity, while Alvarinho contributes aromatic intensity, structure and additional fruit complexity.
And there's another lovely characteristic that makes this wine particularly enjoyable: a delicate, intentional spritz.
This gentle sparkle adds an extra dimension of freshness, making the wine feel wonderfully lively on the palate. It's a nod to the traditional character of Vinho Verde, where a subtle fizz has long been part of the region's winemaking identity.
Expect inviting aromas of fresh pear, ripe melon, peach and lemon, accompanied by delicate floral and herbal notes. On the palate, juicy orchard fruit meets bright citrus, refreshing acidity and a gentle effervescence, finishing crisp, lively and beautifully balanced.
Meet the grapes behind the blend
Avesso – The Fruit and Texture
Baião's signature white grape, Avesso brings ripe pear, peach and apricot characteristics, along with a naturally rounded texture. Its fuller character helps give the wine substance without sacrificing freshness.
Arinto – The Citrus and Freshness
Known as Pedernã in Vinho Verde, Arinto is celebrated for its naturally high acidity and vibrant lemon, lime and green apple characteristics. It contributes the crisp, mouthwatering backbone that makes this blend so refreshing.
Alvarinho – The Aromatics and Structure
One of Portugal's most celebrated indigenous white grapes, Alvarinho is prized for its expressive citrus, stone fruit and occasional tropical aromas.
Known as Albariño across the border in Galicia, Spain, it's capable of producing everything from beautifully refreshing everyday whites to structured, complex wines with excellent ageing potential.
In this blend, Alvarinho adds another layer of aromatic complexity and structure, complementing Avesso's rounded fruit and Arinto's lively acidity.
Together, these three grapes create a beautifully balanced wine with expressive fruit, refreshing acidity and a playful, delicate spritz.
What makes the gentle spritz special?
One of Vinho Verde's most recognisable characteristics is its occasional light, refreshing effervescence, known in Portuguese as agulha, meaning "needle".
Historically, this subtle sparkle could develop when wines underwent malolactic fermentation after bottling, releasing small amounts of carbon dioxide.
Today, winemakers can deliberately preserve or introduce a gentle level of dissolved carbon dioxide to create that same refreshing sensation.
Unlike a fully sparkling wine, which has pronounced bubbles and pressure, a lightly spritzy Vinho Verde offers just a delicate prickle on the tongue.
For Encosta d'Arêgos, the spritz is intentional, adding freshness and making the wine particularly enjoyable when served chilled.
It's a wonderful reminder that Vinho Verde isn't one single style of wine, but a diverse region capable of producing everything from crisp, lightly sparkling blends to rich, structured whites and traditional reds.
What is the Douro Verde?
Although Encosta d'Arêgos overlooks the Douro River, its vineyards belong to the Vinho Verde wine region rather than the Douro appellation.
Baião sits at a fascinating geographical crossroads, where the lush Atlantic-influenced landscapes of Vinho Verde begin transitioning towards the warmer, more continental conditions of the Douro Valley.
This area is sometimes informally called the Douro Verde, or "Green Douro".
It's not an official wine appellation, but rather a descriptive nickname for this meeting point of two distinctive Portuguese wine landscapes.
The warmer inland summers help grapes develop ripe, expressive fruit, while the region's natural acidity keeps the wines beautifully refreshing.
About Encosta d'Arêgos
Encosta d'Arêgos is a small, independent winery in the Baião subregion of Vinho Verde, located on the steep northern slopes overlooking the Douro River.
Its name translates as "Arêgos Slope", a reference to its hillside location near Arêgos railway station.
The winery was founded by Álvaro Monteiro Ribeiro, who left a career in banking to pursue his passion for winemaking.
His project celebrates the distinctive character of Baião and its indigenous Portuguese grape varieties, particularly Avesso.
We first met Álvaro in the summer of 2022, beginning an adventure that involved tracking him down to discover his wines.
It's exactly the sort of experience that makes exploring Portugal's smaller wineries so rewarding — following winding roads, meeting passionate people and discovering wines that deserve a much wider audience.
Aroma: Fresh Pear · Ripe Melon · Peach · Lemon · Delicate Florals
Palate: Juicy Orchard Fruit · Vibrant Citrus · Refreshing Acidity · Gentle Spritz · Crisp, Lively Finish
Pair with: Grilled Shrimp · Clams · Seafood Rice · Grilled White Fish · Sushi · Fresh Salads · Light Portuguese Petiscos · Soft Cheeses
Serving Temperature: 7–9°C / 45–48°F
