João Tavares- Torre de Tavares Encruzado 2021

The vineyards are not certified organic, but we are farmed under organic and sustainable practices, such as use of copper and sulfur. Flowers and herbs such as chamomile act as fungus repellent. The winery is covered in photovoltaic cells; making us a net exporter of electricity and our wines carbon neutral.

Soil Type(s): Beyond the old granitic soils, this vineyard has also plots with even older origin due to marine sediments, from 500 million years ago, which originated shale clayey rocks soils.

Vineyard sorting and manual triage in sorting table then bunches pass through the de-stemmer. Time on skins /maceration is 2 days. The fermentation vessels are 1250L and 1800L chestnut casks where wild native yeasts begin a spontaneous fermentation. Fermentation lasts 15 days, without temperature control, until it is completely dry. The wine sits on for primary lees for 8-9 months without stirring. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation occurs in barrel and the wine is aged for another 9 months in bottle.

Encruzado is often called the Portuguese equivalent of Burgundy. The hazelnut aromas, minerality, and high level of acidity can definitely point to why. Along with Arinto and Verdelho, it is one of the truly noble Portuguese white grapes.

Grilled or Fried Chicken, Fish Tacos, Pork Jowl, Bok Choy, Chicken Pot Pie, Hazelnuts, Pork & Beans, Peking Duck

• Portuguese, Coastal Mexican, Casual American, Traditional Chinese