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WineWise
The Wine
A textured, honey‑tinged, mineral white showing quince, citrus blossom, beeswax, and a gentle phenolic grip. The 2020 vintage was warm but balanced by the Atlantic influence of the Lima Valley, giving this amphora‑fermented wine both richness and tension.
The wine is 100% 'Loureiro' - a Portuguese variety that is aromatic, naturally fresh, and far more ponderous than most people expect from the wines of Vinho Verde. The Aphros grapes are from biodynamically farmed, estate vineyards. The grapes are fermented and aged in clay amphorae (talhas), which add subtle earthiness and structure.
Pairings: This wine is well prepared to keep you fully enthralled all evening long without pairing it with any food whatsoever. But that would be a crime, so after fully appreciating the first glass, you will discover its many other charms when paired with grilled prawns or lemon‑herb chicken or other lighter fare. Cheese-wise, the wine sings beautifully with a tangy, creamy cheese such as young goat’s milk chèvre.
The Winery
Aphros, founded and led by Vasco Croft, is one of Portugal’s pioneers in biodynamic vineyard practice. He is something of a rock star in his home land, though virtually unknown on this side of the pond but by a handful of very happy wine geeks who have tripped upon his wines, represented over here by insightful importers.
Vasco has also been a key force in elevating Vinho Verde’s reputation beyond light, spritzy whites. The estate farms steep, granitic slopes in the Lima Valley, where the Portuguese grape known as 'Loureiro' reaches exceptional aromatic clarity.
Croft’s philosophy blends biodynamic farming, low‑intervention winemaking, and a deep interest in historical techniques — including fermentation and aging in clay amphorae (talhas).
The resulting wines are textural, mineral, and expressive, often showing a combination of floral lift, Atlantic freshness, and subtle earthiness from amphora contact. Aphros has become a reference point for serious, terroir‑driven Vinho Verde.
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