A Golden Gem from Portugal. Quinta Da Ribeirinha Contracena Curtimenta Tejo

Quinta Da Ribeirinha Contracena Curtimenta Tejo (DO) 2022, 11% ABV

€22.00, on offer €17.60, Matsons (Bandon, Grange, Youghal)

Quinta Da Ribeirinha Contracena Curtimenta Tejo (DO) 2022

A Golden Gem from Portugal

This "orange" wine from Quinta Da Ribeirinha is a refreshing change from the norm. Made from 100% Fernão Pires grapes, it boasts a unique golden hue and a vibrant citrusy flavour profile.

The winemaking process is equally intriguing. The grapes spend seven

days in contact with their skins during fermentation (with native yeasts), giving the wine its distinctive colour and extra depth. After that, it's aged in a mix of French oak barrels and concrete tanks, adding complexity and smoothness.

This Contracena Curtimenta is a medium-bodied delight, with a crisp acidity and a lingering finish. It's perfect for those who love a bit of adventure in their glass. With its refreshing citrus notes, we recommend pairing it with sushi rolls.

The Fernão Pires grape is a leading white grape in Portugal, with lime, peach and orange blossom notes. This iteration is Very Highly Recommended.

The Tejo wine region in central Portugal is spread on each bank of the eponymous river. The Tejo (Tagus to us, Tajo in Spain) is the largest river of the Iberian peninsula. It ends its over 1,000 km run in the Atlantic, having passed through Lisbon. 

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**** I've often mentioned here over the past few years that one can find great value in Portuguese wine. If you walk into a Matson store (Bandon, Grange and Youghal) you'll find a real indication of this. With Wine Development Manager Nicolas Sicot at the helm, they have sourced quite a few other wines from Quinta Da Ribeirinha. Labels include Val De Cabanas and Val De Lobos, all excellent value at €13.00 but even better at a tenner. You'll have no bother finding them in Grange as there's a display just inside the door. In any case, Nicot or his team will help you.  I'll be highlighting some of them here over the next few weeks but the tip is to get to Matson's now!