The 9 Best Vinho Verde Wines for Fresh, Summer Fun

No wine is made for summer quite like Vinho Verde. The zippy white wine from northern Portugal pairs with picnic and poolside eats alike, whether grilled fish tacos, crunchy and bright salads, or grilled chicken. The wine is best enjoyed well chilled during walks on the beach, relaxing in Adirondack chairs, or better yet, while overlooking the Atlantic from one of Portugal’s rocky cliffsides.

Vinho Verde is a region in the northeastern tip of Portugal that borders the Spanish wine region of Galicia, which is known for similarly refreshing white wines. Vinho Verde DOC is within the Minho province of Portugal and is named not after its green-tinted wines, but after the lush and varied green landscape which makes up the province.

The region produces around 96 million liters of wine annually (about 128 million bottles) and is gets exported around the world. While Vinho Verde makes red, white, and rosé wines from 45 approved grape varieties, it’s best known for its refreshing, bracing white wines made from Alvarinho (also known as Albariño in Spain), Loureiro, Arinto, and lesser-known grapes like Trajadura. These are known as branco (or white) bottlings, but often just shortened to Vinho Verde.

Light and bright, Vinho Verde is marked by lemon-lime aromas, gooseberry and grapefruit flavors. Averaging around 11.5% ABV (alcohol by volume) it’s lower in alcohol than many alternatives, and it has a subtle, delightful effervescence.

One of Vinho Verde’s biggest boons is its affordability — you can easily find excellent bottles of Vinho Verde for less than $15. Here are nine of the best choices to try right now.

2023 Soalheiro Alvarinho (Clássico) ($20)

In the 1970s the Cerdeira family planted entire vineyards of Alvarinho in the northern subregion of Melgaco. Soalheiro Alvarinho is some of the most elegant Vinho Verde on the market and their more entry-level Clássico bottling is no exception. It’s tropical leaning with notes of green mango, pineapple, and zesty lemon, and since it matures briefly on the lees before bottling, this wine has a touch of bread dough aromas and a fabulous texture.

2023 Anselmo Mendes Pássaros Loureiro ($18)

You can easily identify this tasty Loureiro on shelves thanks to the playful illustrations of green birds on its label. The wine is equally playful with a mouth-watering combination of bracing lemon and salt — an instant reminder of Vinho Verde’s seaside locale. Enjoy this wine chilled and pair it with simple grilled fish topped with lots of lemon juice and a bit of chili.

2022 Curvos Superior ($12)

A blend of Loureiro, Trajadura, and Arinto, this easy-going white wine offers notes of ripe bananas and papaya served with a big squeeze of fresh lime juice and a sprinkle of sea salt. With a fair bit of effervescence, the aromas pop out of the glass.

2022 Aveleda Solos de Granito ($25)

Vinho Verde DOC is known for its granite-rich soils which, when made well, impart a lovely minerality in the region’s wines. This bottling is made from 100% Alvarinho grown in nutrient poor, well-draining soils (a great thing when it comes to growing grapes). Winemaker Carla Moura has the wine go through extended aging in stainless steel and employs batonnage, or stirring the wine on the lees, to add a richer texture and mouthfeel. A more medium-bodied Alvarinho, this wine has lemon and fennel flavors with a very long finish.

2023 Quinta da Raza ($13)

Cheap and cheerful, this wine is so fun in so many ways. It’s on the more sparkling side of fizzy with lots of bubbles that are active in the glass, with aromas of watermelon candy and flavors not unlike Fresca, the citrus soft drink. With an easy screw top closure, this wine is a no-brainer for summer gatherings.

2023 Vera Vinho Verde ($14)

An Arinto-dominant white blend, made with smaller amounts of Azal and Loureiro, the Vera Vinho Verde is far more austere and elegant than its price demands. This wine has a complex balance of flavors like pineapple, green tea, and herbs with a savory, stony finish.

2021 Luis Seabra Vinhos Granito Cru ($54)

With tangerine, lemongrass, and seashell aromas, this 100% Alvarinho wine transports you to the coastline of Portugal within moments of being poured. Winemaker Luis Seabra only harvests grapes grown in granitic soils for this bottling with the aim to showcase how soil can impact the flavor profile of a wine. An anomaly in Vinho Verde, this wine goes through full malolactic fermentation and sees a few months in barrel, both of which contribute to its lovely, rich mouthfeel.

2022 Asnella Superior ($20)

This Arinto-Loureiro blend offers notes of zesty yellow grapefruit, not-too-ripe pineapple, and Meyer lemon. The fruity notes are brought to life by this wine’s salinity and mineral notes. Its flavors and aromas evoke the sea; pair it with salty seafood like mussels, shrimp, clams, or even oysters topped with lemon.

2023 Quinta de Lourosa Vinho Verde ($17)

This classic branco blend is made with Loureiro, Arinto, and lesser-known Avesso variety. Quinta de Lourosa is a stunning winery located 25 miles from the city of Porto, making it a stunning getaway to the region with equally impressive wines. This bottling has easy-going citrusy notes with lots of fizzy bubbles.