4 and 6 bottle levels    $24 (member price $21)
Alvarinho, Arinto, Verdelho, Gouveio, Viosinho  13.9% ABV

Esporão is owned by the Roquette family (one of the first families of Port) to explore the terroirs of Vinho Verde, Douro and Alentejo.  In this case, it’s Alentejo, in central Portugal, a hot dry area of the country, with schist and loamy clay soil.  They use eight species of bats in their vineyards and olive groves, as bats eat one third of their body weight in insects daily.  While al fresco dining and drinking on our deck at dusk, Carol and I can see bats in the back yard, and smile as they eat mosquitos!  The varieties are vinified separately, then rested in the bottle for 6 months.  Aged in tulip shaped concrete vessels.  White peach, apricot, lime zest, golden apple skin.  Slight pink hue from skin contact.

Food Pairing Suggestions:
Enjoy this elegant unique blend with regional dishes such as Camarao con Piri Piri (grilled shrimp with hot sauce); vegetable frittata with poached trout and cucumber; Peixinhos da Horta (white wine tempura battered fried green beans); steamed clams with garlic and cilantro; Portuguese grilled sardines; and pan fried white fish with tropical mango salsa. This delightful white can also be served as an aperitif or alongside crispy cod drizzled with lemon and capers, angel hair pasta lightly tossed in a clammy broth, and grilled chicken stuffed with goat cheese and herbs served over vegetable rice. Or simply savor a glass with young goat cheese, English bath soft cows cheese, or soft Spanish cheeses such as Nata de Cantabria cream and Marjorera goat