3rd New Varietal of 2010-Arinto
I continue to be pleasantly surprised by the new varietals I have discovered very early in 2010. I know that I resolved to try a new varietal every month in 2010, but I found my newest varietal this past week and, as yesterday was Super Bowl Sunday, I decided to get "ahead of the game". My new varietal is from Portugal— Arinto!!
Arinto (ah-RIHN-toh) is a Portuguese white grape variety that produces fresh crisp wine with plenty of acidity even when grown in the hot conditions of Southern Portugal. It is also known as Pedernao.
As an aperitif before the big game I opened the Quinta da Alorna "Arintho". I found this at my local Whole Foods store literally "in the corner" of the wines of Portugal. It came in at $11.00. What a bargain! Bright gold in color, it has and intense nose of grapefruit and wet stones. The palate is fairly weighty with "spritzy" flavors of citrus, bananas, apricot and pears. The finish is very long and very enjoyable. My wife Jen, who not long ago declared the Falanghina as her new favorite white wine, told me that this one is right up there with the Falanghina and asked if we could open another bottle of the Arintho. I sadly had to tell her that I only had one, but that I would head back to Whole Foods to get another bottle of this beauty this week! You should head out too and grab an Arinto. Just let me get my bottle first!
Arinto (ah-RIHN-toh) is a Portuguese white grape variety that produces fresh crisp wine with plenty of acidity even when grown in the hot conditions of Southern Portugal. It is also known as Pedernao.
As an aperitif before the big game I opened the Quinta da Alorna "Arintho". I found this at my local Whole Foods store literally "in the corner" of the wines of Portugal. It came in at $11.00. What a bargain! Bright gold in color, it has and intense nose of grapefruit and wet stones. The palate is fairly weighty with "spritzy" flavors of citrus, bananas, apricot and pears. The finish is very long and very enjoyable. My wife Jen, who not long ago declared the Falanghina as her new favorite white wine, told me that this one is right up there with the Falanghina and asked if we could open another bottle of the Arintho. I sadly had to tell her that I only had one, but that I would head back to Whole Foods to get another bottle of this beauty this week! You should head out too and grab an Arinto. Just let me get my bottle first!
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