Vinho Verde (white)
Light, crisp whites from the rainy northwest, often low in alcohol and sometimes with a slight sparkle. Everyday blends are some of Portugal’s best-known exports; single-variety Alvarinho and Loureiro offer more depth and age well.
Bottles to try
Casal Garcia Vinho Verde
WhiteMuros Antigos Alvarinho
WhiteSoalheiro Alvarinho
WhiteQuinta do Ameal Solo Único
WhiteQuinta do Ameal Loureiro Reserva
WhiteCritics’ picks
Scores out of 100 belong to one bottle and vintage, not the whole style. We only list scores and rankings we could confirm in a public source; follow each link to check. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Prices are US release prices per 75 cl as printed by the critic; value compares the score with the price trend.
| Bottle | Critic | Score | Price · value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinta do Regueiro Alvarinho Foral de Melgaço Old Vines 2024 | Wine Spectator | 91pts | $20 Great value (+2.9 pts) |
28 Feb 2026 issue |
| Quinta do Ameal Loureiro Reserva 2023 | Wine Spectator | 90pts | $40 Fair price (+0.2 pts) |
28 Feb 2026 issue |
| Anselmo Mendes Alvarinho Contacto (Mendes & Symington) 2024 | Wine Spectator | 90pts | $22 Good value (+1.7 pts) |
28 Feb 2026 issue |
| Niepoort Loureiro Dócil 2024 | Wine Spectator | 89pts | $17 Good value (+1.3 pts) |
28 Feb 2026 issue |
| Anselmo Mendes Alvarinho Curtimenta 2023 | James Suckling | No. 7, Top 100 Wines of Portugal 2025 |
— | 8 Oct 2025 |
Grapes
Producers
Soalheiro
A family pioneer in Melgaço that launched one of the first Alvarinho brands of the area in 1982. Known for pure, mineral Alvarinho in many styles, from fresh to oak-aged and sparkling.
Anselmo Mendes
A winemaker nicknamed “Mr Alvarinho” for his detailed work with the grape, including skin-contact and barrel-aged versions such as Muros de Melgaço.
Aveleda
Est. 1870A family estate with famous gardens. Its Casal Garcia brand is one of the best-selling Vinho Verdes in the world.
Quinta do Ameal
A Lima valley estate that showed how serious and age-worthy Loureiro can be. Now part of the Esporão group.
Quinta do Regueiro
Est. 1988A family estate in Melgaço that began in 1988 with three hectares of Alvarinho and still focuses on the grape. Its main label is Foral de Melgaço, including an Old Vines bottling.
Howard’s Folly
A partnership between Yorkshire-born financier Howard Bilton and Australian-born winemaker David Baverstock, who spent around three decades at Esporão. Much of the fruit comes from granite slopes near Portalegre; Sonhador means “dreamer”.