{"product_id":"espera-curtimenta-fernao-pires-alvarinho-2024","title":"Espera Curtimenta Fernão Pires \u0026 Alvarinho 2024","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA beautifully expressive Portuguese orange wine that brings an ancient winemaking technique to the cool Atlantic vineyards of Alcobaça.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEspera Curtimenta is made from \u003cstrong\u003e90% Fernão Pires and 10% Alvarinho\u003c\/strong\u003e, grown in northeast-facing vineyards on clay-limestone soils close to Portugal's Atlantic coast. Rather than pressing the juice away from the skins as you would for a conventional white wine, Rodrigo Martins ferments the grapes \u003cstrong\u003eon their skins for 14 days\u003c\/strong\u003e—a traditional Portuguese technique known as \u003cem\u003ecurtimenta\u003c\/em\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat extended skin contact gives the wine its beautiful \u003cstrong\u003elight amber colour\u003c\/strong\u003e, but also adds texture, structure and an entirely different dimension to the aromatic Fernão Pires grape. Expect \u003cstrong\u003eapricot, orange peel and delicate floral notes\u003c\/strong\u003e, alongside a distinctive mineral character. On the palate it's intense yet remarkably fresh, with a lightly grippy, almost crunchy texture and a long, savoury finish. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter fermentation, \u003cstrong\u003e85% of the wine matures in stainless steel\u003c\/strong\u003e, while the remaining portion spends time in new 500-litre French oak barrels. Both are aged \u003cem\u003esur lie\u003c\/em\u003e for six months without bâtonnage, adding subtle texture and complexity while preserving the freshness of the fruit. At just \u003cstrong\u003e11.6% ABV and only 1.7 g\/L residual sugar\u003c\/strong\u003e, it's beautifully dry and incredibly food-friendly. Rodrigo recommends serving it at \u003cstrong\u003e52–55°F and even decanting it\u003c\/strong\u003e to allow all those aromatics to open up. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003eWhat exactly is \u003cem\u003eCurtimenta\u003c\/em\u003e?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCurtimenta\u003c\/em\u003e is the traditional Portuguese practice of \u003cstrong\u003efermenting white grapes with their skins\u003c\/strong\u003e, rather than immediately pressing the juice away from them. Today we'd probably call the resulting style an \u003cem\u003eorange\u003c\/em\u003e or \u003cem\u003eskin-contact\u003c\/em\u003e wine, but the technique has deep roots in Portuguese winemaking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeeping the juice in contact with the skins extracts colour, aroma, flavour compounds and a little tannin—something we normally associate with red wine. That's why this wine has more structure and texture than a typical white, while still retaining the freshness and acidity you'd expect from its Atlantic origins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd Fernão Pires is particularly fun here. It's one of Portugal's most widely planted indigenous white grapes and is naturally \u003cstrong\u003ehighly aromatic\u003c\/strong\u003e, often showing citrus, flowers and ripe stone fruit. Skin fermentation takes that exuberant fruit and gives it a more savoury, textured edge. The small addition of Alvarinho brings another layer of freshness and structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Espera\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEspera is the project of winemaker Rodrigo Martins and Ana Leal\u003c\/strong\u003e, founded in 2014 when Rodrigo began working with tiny vineyard parcels around \u003cstrong\u003eAlcobaça, in Portugal's Lisboa wine region\u003c\/strong\u003e. Rodrigo, an agronomic engineer with a master's degree in viticulture and oenology, had spent years consulting for wineries throughout Portugal before creating something of his own; Ana is responsible for the distinctive identity of the brand. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vineyards sit on a plateau around \u003cstrong\u003e120 metres above sea level, close to Nazaré and the Atlantic Ocean\u003c\/strong\u003e. That maritime influence is hugely important: cooler conditions and high humidity, combined with predominantly clay-limestone soils, give Espera's wines their signature \u003cstrong\u003efreshness, natural acidity, minerality and saline character\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir approach in both vineyard and cellar is deliberately hands-off. Espera follows \u003cstrong\u003eorganic farming principles and low-intervention winemaking\u003c\/strong\u003e, avoiding unnecessary additives and allowing wines the time they need to develop rather than rushing them to market. Rodrigo uses natural fermentation; the wines are made without fining or filtration and with low levels of sulfur. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd even the name \u003cstrong\u003eEspera\u003c\/strong\u003e has a lovely story behind it. In vineyard pruning, an \u003cem\u003eespera\u003c\/em\u003e is a secondary spur left behind to become a future fruit-bearing unit. But \u003cem\u003eespera\u003c\/em\u003e also means \u003cstrong\u003e\"wait\"\u003c\/strong\u003e in Portuguese. That idea of patience became central to Rodrigo and Ana's philosophy: rather than making wine according to a predetermined timetable, they wait until each wine tells them it's ready to be shared. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly \u003cstrong\u003e7,000 bottles of the 2024 Curtimenta\u003c\/strong\u003e were produced. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e Apricot · Orange Peel · White Flowers · Mineral\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePalate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dry · Fresh · Textured · Light Tannin · Savoury · Long Finish\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePair with:\u003c\/strong\u003e Grilled octopus · Oily fish · Roast chicken · Pork · Mushroom dishes · Aged cheese\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Espera","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47992846123186,"sku":null,"price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0505\/0577\/7330\/files\/ChatGPTImageSep5_2026_11_57_43AM.png?v=1788634805","url":"https:\/\/thevinho.com\/products\/espera-curtimenta-fernao-pires-alvarinho-2024","provider":"The Vinho","version":"1.0","type":"link"}