The non-vintage Vinho Verde of Vilacentinho scored a positive 16 points on the Dionysian Scale of 20 points and worked as a food wine even though I usually use most Portuguese Vinho Verde wines as an aperitif.
Quite a few examples of “Green Wine” which is what “Vinho Verde” means, although it is grown in a Green area in Portugal, not barren plains, and not the color “green”; the wine is straw yellow and this style is never more than 10% alcohol as the Vilacentinho is. Also, these wines cost under $10 and I use them all summer as pre-dinner wines.
I served this example with Chinese white rice covered with broccoli and chicken baked in a cream sauce. The lime zest and white peach fruit paired well with the first “on-the-deck dinner” of spring and because it has just a touch of residual sugar, making it almost dry, it works. In vino veritas.
June Kim of Brooklyn, has had this combination and enjoyed it. Low alcohol is the key to chicken and rice meals.
This producer is imported by Independence Imports of Miami, Fl, and the wine is bottled by Soc Arg. Casa de Vilacetinho, SA in Portugal.
Drink Vinho Verde all spring, summer and autumn prior to, or with, out door meals.
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