Casa Santa Eulália 'Plainas' Espadeiro Rosé 2025
A beautifully delicate and refreshing rosé from the mountainous Basto subregion of Vinho Verde, bursting with juicy strawberries, fresh raspberries and vibrant citrus. Made entirely from the little-known Portuguese grape Espadeiro, this is a wonderfully expressive wine with a lovely family story behind its name.
Casa Santa Eulália Plainas Espadeiro Rosé comes from the picturesque village of Atei, near Mondim de Basto, where the family's vineyards overlook the Tâmega River. Made from 100% Espadeiro, a traditional red grape closely associated with northern Portugal, this beautifully refreshing rosé showcases the grape's delicate colour, bright red fruit and naturally lively acidity.
The grapes are harvested by hand into small 20 kg boxes before being destemmed and gently pressed. The juice then undergoes a cool fermentation in stainless-steel tanks, preserving the delicate aromas and refreshing character of Espadeiro.
In the glass, expect a beautiful pale salmon-pink colour, with inviting aromas of fresh strawberries, raspberries, cherries and subtle floral notes. On the palate, it's light-bodied and wonderfully refreshing, with juicy red berry fruit, vibrant acidity and a clean, lingering finish.
At just 11% ABV, it's a lovely wine for a warm afternoon, a leisurely seafood lunch or simply enjoying a glass with friends.
What makes Espadeiro special?
Espadeiro is one of Portugal's lesser-known indigenous red grape varieties, traditionally grown in the Vinho Verde region, particularly in its inland subregions such as Basto.
Its name translates as "swordsman" in Portuguese, and there's a charming explanation often associated with the grape: its long, narrow bunches are said to resemble swords.
Unlike Vinhão, which produces intensely coloured, deeply pigmented red wines, Espadeiro is particularly well suited to producing lighter, more delicate rosés.
Typical characteristics include fresh strawberry, raspberry, red cherry and delicate floral aromas, accompanied by refreshing acidity and a light, elegant structure.
Espadeiro is also grown across the border in Galicia, Spain, where it forms part of the shared winemaking heritage of northwestern Iberia.
Historically, the grape was used in traditional regional wines, but its naturally delicate fruit character makes it especially appealing for modern rosé production.
Casa Santa Eulália's Plainas is a wonderful example of how this relatively unfamiliar grape can shine on its own, producing a rosé that's beautifully aromatic, refreshing and full of personality.
How does rosé get its colour?
One of the most interesting things about rosé is that its colour comes primarily from the skins of red grapes, rather than from the juice itself.
Most red grapes actually have clear juice. The pink, red and purple pigments are concentrated in their skins.
For red wine, the juice typically remains in contact with the skins during fermentation, extracting colour, tannins and flavour.
For rosé, however, winemakers carefully limit that extraction, producing wines ranging from the palest salmon pink to much deeper shades of rose.
Casa Santa Eulália uses a particularly gentle approach.
After harvesting and destemming, the Espadeiro grapes are lightly pressed, extracting just enough colour and flavour to create the wine's beautiful pale pink appearance.
The juice then ferments at a low temperature in stainless-steel tanks, helping preserve its delicate red berry and floral aromas.
The result is a rosé with the fruit character of a red grape but the freshness, elegance and easy-drinking charm of a white wine.
Why is it called Plainas?
The name Plainas comes from the vineyard property in Atei, where the grapes for this wine are grown.
And behind that name is a particularly lovely family story.
In 1962, the Plainas property was given as a family gift, becoming part of the family's agricultural heritage and strengthening their connection to the land.
The vineyards overlook the beautiful Tâmega River, surrounded by the green hills and mountains that make Basto such a distinctive wine region.
Today, the Plainas name celebrates that connection to family and place, honouring the generations who have cared for the land.
It's a wonderful reminder that in Portugal, wine is often about much more than grapes. It's about the families, villages and traditions behind every bottle.
What makes Basto special?
Basto is one of the most inland subregions of Vinho Verde, where the lush green landscapes of northern Portugal begin to meet the rugged mountains of Trás-os-Montes.
Unlike the cooler, wetter coastal vineyards, Basto experiences colder winters and warmer, drier summers, allowing grapes to develop expressive fruit while retaining the refreshing acidity for which Vinho Verde is famous.
The region's predominantly granite soils, mountainous surroundings and the influence of the Tâmega River create distinctive growing conditions.
While Vinho Verde is internationally famous for its crisp, refreshing white wines, the region also has a long history of producing reds and rosés from indigenous Portuguese grapes.
Espadeiro is a wonderful example of that tradition, producing beautifully refreshing rosés that capture the distinctive character of northern Portugal.
About Casa Santa Eulália
Casa Santa Eulália is a historic family wine estate in Atei, near Mondim de Basto, in the Basto subregion of Vinho Verde.
The family's historic home dates back to the 17th century and has been in the family since 1822, preserving generations of agricultural tradition in the beautiful Basto countryside.
Today, the winery is led by Francisco Marques Leandro, who trained under renowned Portuguese winemaker Anselmo Mendes, one of the country's most respected specialists in indigenous white grape varieties.
Francisco combines the family's agricultural heritage with a modern approach to winemaking, focusing on expressing the distinctive character of Basto's traditional grapes.
The vineyards benefit from the region's granite-rich soils, warmer inland summers and the influence of the Tâmega River, producing wines with expressive fruit and beautifully refreshing acidity.
Casa Santa Eulália works with a diverse range of indigenous Portuguese grape varieties, including Alvarinho, Arinto, Azal, Avesso, Loureiro, Trajadura, Espadeiro and Vinhão.
Their Plainas range celebrates the family's historic vineyard property, producing approachable, characterful wines that reflect the landscapes and traditions of northern Portugal.
It's a wonderful example of how a family winery can preserve its heritage while introducing wine lovers to some of Portugal's lesser-known grape varieties.
Aroma: Strawberry · Raspberry · Red Cherry · Delicate Florals
Palate: Dry · Light-bodied · Juicy Red Fruit · Vibrant Acidity · Clean, Refreshing Finish
Pair with: Grilled Shrimp · Clams · Seafood Rice · Grilled Fish · Charcuterie · Fresh Salads · Roast Chicken · Soft Cheeses
Serving Temperature: 8–10°C / 46–50°F
