Sidónio de Sousa ' Branco Reserva 2023 '

Sidónio de Sousa is a small family business in Sangalhos, in the heart of the Bairrada region on Portugal's Atlantic west coast. The family has been active in viticulture for over a hundred years; grandfather Sidónio started bottling wine in 1990 and has since received numerous national awards. The estate owns 15 hectares of vineyards in Figueira da Costa, with limestone-clay soils, planted with the indigenous white varieties Bical, Cercial, Maria Gomes, and Arinto. The Branco Reserva - their first still white wine from 2016 - is made from 93% Bical and 7% Cercial, with 8 to 10 hours of skin contact in the press, fermentation and aging entirely in stainless steel with weekly bâtonnage.

Description: Clear straw yellow with fresh aromas of lemon, green apple, white pear and a soft minerality. Fresh and lively on the palate with a beautiful texture, vibrant acidity, and a juicy, long-lasting finish.

Pairs well with: Grilled sea bass or seafood, peixinhos da horta (fried green beans), light fish soup, or fresh goat cheese.

Fun fact: The Sidónio de Sousa family is known for owning some of Bairrada's oldest Baga vineyards and ages its red wines in 4,000-liter barrels made from Portuguese oak - a technique that is almost no longer used anywhere, even in Portugal.