Soalheiro Oppaco

Oppaco is the first red wine ever made by Soalheiro, representing a new chapter. The objective was to approach the region's red wines in an innovative way. It began in 2013 as a blend of two grape varieties from the region: the red grape variety Vinhão (“Sousão” in the Douro Region) and the white grape variety Alvarinho. Today we also include the red grape variety Pinot Noir, to achieve the perfect balance. This combination highlights the elegance of Alvarinho and the light and fruity profile of Pinot Noir that softens some of the hardness of Vinhão, thus producing a delicate, elegant wine with a remarkable balance between tannins, alcohol and acidity. The name of this wine - Oppaco - results from it being Soalheiro's first red.

The Alvarinho and Vinhão grapes come from a more inland terroir while the Pinot Noir grapes originate from older vineyards with an Atlantic influence. This means that Oppaco, in addition to being a mixture of grape varieties, is a mixture of terroirs. The cold nights during the grape ripening season, as well as the granite soils of these two terroirs, contribute to the character of this new style of red wine in the Vinho Verde Region.

Oppaco represents true innovation. In the Minho region, the Vinhão variety expresses itself in a very interesting way, particularly due to its high concentration of tannins and color. Therefore, we consider it important to blend it with other varieties, in this case with Alvarinho and Pinot Noir, to produce a smoother and more elegant wine. The Vinhão variety is one of the few red varieties in which the grape pulp is red, producing a must that already has color. The grapes are pressed immediately after harvest to avoid contact with too much skin. Alvarinho and Vinhão ferment together without maceration, while Pinot Noir ferments separately and spends some time in contact with the skins. After fermentation, 30% of the wine ages in new French oak barrels for 12 months.

Oppaco has a bright ruby color and reveals aromas of fresh red fruit with hints of spice. The flavor is elegant and persistent, with persistent tannins. Soalheiro Oppaco has the same potential for evolution in the bottle as our white wines.

Soalheiro Oppaco goes well with a wide range of dishes. It is an excellent combination with salmon or other fatty fish, red meat, lamb, lamb, duck and other game dishes. It also pairs perfectly with lamprey - a Minho delicacy. Consumed at the correct temperature (16°C) it reveals its elegant, concentrated profile with lively acidity, making it perfect to accompany dishes traditionally associated with white wines. If you like fish and want to accompany your dish with a red wine, this is the wine!

Winery: Soalheiro
Region: IG Minho 
Variety: 70% Vinhão, 15% Alvarinho, 15% Pinot Noir
Year: 2019
Bottle: 750 ml 
Case: 1 bottle
Alc. Content: 11,00%
Standard Drinks: 6,52