Sidónio de Sousa ' Sparkling White Brut Nature

Sidónio de Sousa is a small, close-knit family business in Sangalhos, in the heart of Bairrada – the Portuguese region that has been synonymous with the country's best sparkling wines for over a century. The family's roots in viticulture go back more than a hundred years; the first bottling only took place in 1990 after grandfather Sidónio won national awards and was encouraged by peers to stop selling his wines in bulk. The estate owns 15 hectares of limestone-clay vineyards in Figueira da Costa with indigenous grape varieties. The Espumante Branco Brut Nature is a blend of Bical (40%), Maria Gomes (30%) and Arinto (30%), made using the traditional method (second fermentation in the bottle), disgorged without dosage for a completely dry style.

Description: Light yellow with fine, persistent bubbles. Fresh and expressive, with aromas of green apple, pear, citrus blossom and a soft touch of toasted bread from the autolysis. Dry and lively on the palate, with a zesty acidity, a creamy mousse and a long, fresh finish.

Pairs well with: Aperitif, fresh oysters, grilled seafood, leitão (Bairrada's classic roasted suckling pig dish) or light fish dishes.

Fun fact: Bairrada has been producing sparkling wine using the traditional method for over 130 years, making it by far the most important sparkling wine region in Portugal – yet it remains largely unknown outside the country's borders. A wonderful area of discovery for lovers of Champagne-style bubbles.