Barão da Várzea do Douro, Colheita Douro Branco is pale yellow in colour and features citrus aromas alongside subtle floral notes and hints of peach. The wine is fresh and crisp with orchard fruit and lemon peel to the fore, and backed up by juiciness and refreshing acidity which leaves you wanting to refill your glass.

When we tried this Barão da Várzea do Douro, Colheita Douro Branco we were immediately drawn to the idea of closing the doors and aiming for the nearest outdoor seating area, sadly it was raining and our work ethic is too strong.  If you are lucky enough to find yourself with time off in the sun then try this with leafy salads and light fish dishes.

About the region and producer

The Lencastre family, a family of aristocratic Portuguese lineage, are the owners of Casa de Vila Nova and have started a new Douro project naming it after Bernardo Lencastre himself - the Barão or Baron of Varzea. The wines are produced from classic Portuguese varieties cultivated near Cambres.. They have owned the land since the 12th century -  and their home "Vila Nova" or "New House" which was built in the 1700s surrounds the original ivy clad tower that still remains from the 12th century. Gradual expansion of the property has continued over the centuries of ownership.

Penafiel, a town geographically close to the Vinho Verde wine region in Portugal's north, is the closest town to the estate.  In the late 1970s the family planted around 12 hectares of indigenous vines and in 2008 Bernardo Lencastre and his brothers took over the running of the property soon after revitalising the vineyards and using their grapes to make vinho verde, even choosing to bottle their own wines - the first generation to do so. At current estimate they have grown the property to around 42 hectares of vineyards.

There is a strong influence on this Entre-Douro-e-Minho sub-region of Sousa by winds from the Atlantic Ocean - these winds create the perfect climate to ripen varieties such as Avesso, Loureiro and Alvarinho.

Vineyard and Wine Making

The native Portuguese white grapes Gouveio, Viosinho and Arinto are perfect for the fine schist soils in the vineyards situated to the south of the river near Cambres, in the west of the Douro valley. Some of the vines are over 50 years old, and they enjoy a warm and dry climate. Fermentation is done in stainless steel at controlled temperatures and the wine does not need held for long before being released to the market.  It is recomended for drinking while still in its youth.