I first discovered wines of Aveleda at VinExpo in Bordeaux in 2007. At the time, Americans were just beginning to catch on to the pleasures of Vinho Verde—this light-bodied, low-alcohol, nicely fruited, slightly fizzy style of wine just perfect for summer-drinking refreshment. As a retailer I campaigned hard to get one of our suppliers to bring the wines into Iowa. In the intervening years, that wholesaler lost interest in the wines, and I became an importer/wholesaler myself. One of the first wineries I contacted was Aveleda, to see about bringing the wines back into Iowa. Aveleda has been owned & run by the Guedes family since 1870, and they consistently lead the pack for quality in their range of everyday-affordable Portuguese wines. In 2011 Wine & Spirits magazine named Aveleda “International Winery of the Year” for the ninth time. The two Casal Garcia wines offer simple, refreshing pleasure: the white with more citrus; the rosé with more cherry/strawberry. Like lemonade for grown-ups, these wines are perfect for quaffing in the afternoon shade. Quinta da Aveleda, made from the estate’s finest grapes, has a more sophisticated, minerally flavor profile, and will happily pair with picnic fare, salads, or fish.
http://aveleda.portugalwines.org/
http://www.aveleda.pt/index.php?id=6
Casal Garcia Vinho Verde
Trajadura, Loureiro, Arinto, Azal
UPC: 7 64793 20830 1
Casal Garcia Vinho Verde Rosé
Vinhão, Azal Tinto, Barraçat
UPC: 7 64793 32830 6
Quinta da Aveleda Vinho Verde
Loureiro, Alvarinho
UPC: 7 64793 22730 2