Herdade de Coelheiros Alentejo Branco

Pairs with: Grilled sea bass, garlic butter shrimp, roasted chicken with lemon and herbs, a crisp goat cheese salad, or fresh oysters

Good for: Introducing your white wine-loving friends to Portugal’s incredible indigenous grapes, or keeping on hand as a vibrant, high-character patio white

Grape: Arinto and Antão Vaz

I am from: Alentejo, Portugal

The Story: Established in 1991, Herdade de Coelheiros is a massive, stunning 800-hectare estate that serves as a shining beacon of biodiversity and sustainability in Portugal. Along with 50 hectares of vines, the property is home to an expansive walnut orchard and a vast cork forest where wild sheep and deer roam completely free. The winery operates under strict organic and biodynamic philosophies, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem (they even use native birds and bats as natural pest controllers instead of chemical pesticides). For this Branco (white), they blend two of Portugal's star white varieties—fermenting a portion in stainless steel to capture electric fruit, and another portion in large, neutral Austrian oak foudres to build beautiful weight and texture.

Why You'll Love Me: It is an incredibly energized, pure, and textured white wine that perfectly balances sun-drenched fruit with mouthwatering crispness. It pours a bright, pale straw-yellow with citrus reflections, opening with an intense, fragrant nose of fresh lemon peel, ripe tangerine, white peach, and a tropical hint of pineapple. On the palate, the Arinto grape provides a laser-focused, razor-sharp acidity and distinct chalky minerality, while the Antão Vaz adds a round, fleshy weight and a long, smooth finish accented by a touch of green herbs.