The Praia Estate
The winery is a family business started in 1947, but the Guedes family has been producing wine for more than three centuries. The premises are located in the heart of the Vinho Verde region.
"Leading producer of Vinho Verde in Portugal; quaffable wines for every day."
- Anthony Dias Blue's pocket guide to wine 2006
The Praia Vineyard
The family owns 120 hectares (296.4 acres) of vines. The ancient vines hanging on trees were replaced by trellised vines stretching along the wires. The wine from the estate will be born from these grapes and sent to the remotest parts of the world, taking with it a little of the warmth of the sun, the freshness of the soil and the scent of the land of its birth.
The Vinho Verde region is one of the most extensive European Wine Regions, situated in the North of Portugal between the Minho and Douro rivers, and limited on the Eastern side by the mountains of Marão and Gerês, which detain the moist winds from the Atlantic. The Atlantic climate and the granitic soil are the main factors that give the Vinho Verde its highly appreciated characteristics : a young, fresh wine, with low alcoholic graduation and a slight fruity aroma. From the 300 million liters of wine produced annually in this region, Quinta da Aveleda produces and bottles about 10 million.
Praia Aveleda Vinho Verde NV is made from 40% Loureiro, 20% Trajadura, 20% Arinto, 20% Azal.
Praia, which means "beach" in Portuguese, is a smooth and fresh wine with delicate and lovely fruity flavors. Slightly spritzy, it is well balanced and very refreshing.
The region is typical for its unique wines that are fresh and light, combined with a very well balanced acidity. These characteristics result from the region's unique soil and climate, with a strong Atlantic influence that you will identify when you taste it.
The wine is ideal as an aperitif or throughout a meal, especially with fish, seafood, white meat and salads. Due to it freshness, it is particularly pleasant in a relaxed and informal ambiance.
Luis Canas Rioja Crianza is made from 95% Tempranillo and 5% Garnacha
A classic style Rioja from one of the regions most enduring family run wineries.. The hillside terraced vineyards are sheltered by the Sierra Cantabria Mountains to the north from harsh weather extremes. Small plot production is utilized in this region of infertile chalky clay soil to produce clusters of excellent quality. Almost 900 plots are needed to complete the approximately 400 hectares of estate-owned or cellar-controlled vineyards, some with vines more than 100 years in age.
Tasting notes
Made from 95% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha of 30 years of age, the wine shows a ruby red color, a clean nose with nuances of balsamic, plum and cedar. The palate is smooth and velvety, complex and structured, with fruit, spice flavors with toasted oak. A pleasant finish with red fruits and hints of eucalyptus.
The harvest
This year in Rioja Alavesa the weather has been especially cold, the summer short and dry, and there has been plenty of rain in early September. This has produced wines with great aromatic notes, particularly those coming from high altitude areas, very fragrant and with great structure.
Winemaking and aging
Upon entering the bodega and passing the selection table, the grapes are de-stemmed and crushed before undergoing fermentation and then maceration in stainless steel tanks for a total of 8 days, obtaining better color extraction as well as much more complex wines, suitable for prolonged aging. The wine is clarified with vegetable gelatines and follows anicrobic filtration.
It is ideal to pair with meats; red meat, poultry, small game, oily fish, semi-cured cheeses, spicy dishes and hot dishes such as beans or potatoes Rioja style.
After its primary fermentation, the wine is placed in barrels where it undergoes malolactic fermentation and is aged for a minimum of 12 months. It is then bottled for at least another 12 months.
Walt La Brisa Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
The plush weight and lovely, forward fruit are complimented by cool-climate acidity and a light touch of oak barrel.rose flavors, accented with notes of warm spice and mulberry, and plum, cherryThe 2022 is packed with
Review:
"Redolent of cinnamon, Bing cherry and sarsaparilla on the nose, this Pinot gains depth, purity and focus as it hits the palate. Flavors of dried raspberries, fried shiitake mushrooms, fresh mint and pithy tangerine peel along a seamless and vibrant finish."
- Wine Enthusiast, Tom Capo 93 Points