There at the Wines of Portugal – Vancouver tasting table #40 was Ricardo Jorge Pinto Correia, the Director of Casa Santos Lima with a line up of wines to show Vancouver.

Friendly, unflappable and enthusiastic about his wares, Ricardo happily explained in great detail about the lines he was showing from numerous producers, including heavier weights such as Quinta de Porrais (formerly owned by the legendary, first woman of Portuguese wine, Doña Antonia Ferreira), and a strawberries and creamy rosé called Portuga made of Castelão and (closely related) Camarate grapes from Lisbon.

This light pleaser, the Pluma from Vinho Verde, however was the one I started with.  Effervescent and refreshing, it’s a very pale shade of straw and is made from a blend of Trajadura/Treixadura, Loureiro (both commonly used in Vinho Verde), Avesso (for scent) and Arinto (lemon and citrus) grapes.

It’s intensely aromatic – much moreso than the average Vinho Verde – and shows a massive bouquet of green flowers.  The lightly sparkling palate has high acidity and expresses flavours of fresh lemon, lime blossom and green tomato with a good finish.

WSET Good, this is a simple but delicious wine with light alcohol.  Great for those quintessential hot summer days – or equally well matched with fresh seafood.