100% Arinto Laranja from Estremadura, Lisboa, Portugal. Organic, Biodynamic, Low Intervention, Unfiltered, Unfined, Low Sulfites.

HISTORY: Ricardo Melo is recovering Quinta da Ermegeira, a historic place and full of stories since the 16th century. Ricardo grew up in Brazil, where he was exposed to Portuguese wines from an early age. Over time, through tasting and travel, he got to know and appreciate the diversity of terroirs and grapes that define Portugal’s wine landscape.

After some time traveling through Europe, he settled in London, where he was surprised to find that most restaurant lists had a very small or nonexistent selection of Portuguese wines. Later, this fact motivated him to look for producers in Portugal that produced wine naturally, but on a small scale. Eventually, it was a greater motivation that led him to move to the interior of Portugal, in order to produce his own style of wines. His final objective was to produce wines naturally without the use of synthetic chemicals or sulfites, in the rich and discreet region of Torres Vedras, on the outskirts of Lisbon.

ABOUT: Ricardo made a close partnership at Quinta da Ermegeira with José Augusto Fasolo, winemaker in Brazil (Dominio Vicari). Together, in the cellar, they produce wines free of any synthetic, organic chemicals, with biodynamic procedures and without sulfites. 100% grapes from Torres Vedras terroir, where they work with Castelão, Alicante Bouschet and Tinta Roriz for reds and Arinto, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc for whites.

VINIFICATION: Grapes are Hand picked from 35 year old Vines situated on Soils composed of Alluvium, Clay & Sandstone. Grapes undergo Carbonic Maceration, and undergo Spontaneous Fermentation w/ Ambient Yeast. The wine is macerated on its skins for 10 days, after which the wine is transferred to Stainless Steel tanks to age. The wine is then bottled unfined & unfiltered, without the addition of Sulfites.

TASTING NOTES: Slightly hazy, Light Amber color w/ Orange-Gold highlights. Light bodied. This is a razor-sharp orange from the Arinto Grape varietal, with a stable backbone of fine acidity. Aromas & flavors of Lemon, Orange Zest, Tangerine & Gooseberry w/ tangy Minerals & tannic texture provided by time spent on its skins & due to it being unfiltered. Hints of Herbal funk on the finish.

FOOD PAIRING: Pair this wine with Shellfish, Flavorful Lean Fish dishes, Grilled Fish, Pork, White Meats, Creamy Pastas, Seafood Pastas.