Arinto dos Açores is a white grape variety indigenous to the Azores. The Azores are volcanic islands that are territory of Portugal. Visiting these islands and seeing the unique vine trellising methods is on my bucket list but for now, I am making due with drinking their wines and doing workouts filmed in the lush landscape. There are other Arinto varieties grown on the mainland but this variety is unrelated. It is genetically the same as Sercial, a grape used in the production of Madeira, but producers in the Azores say it is unique. Arinto is the most important white grape grown in the region, with a majority of the plantings on the island of Pico. The vines are planted in the volcanic soils and get sea mist blown on them from the ‘gentle sea breezes’. These two factors create wines with extra salinity and minerality.
The wine I drank this week is a 2020 Ameixâmba Colheita Selectionada. This wine is mostly Arinto dos Açores, blended with Terrantez do Pico, from Pico and Faial. It is a medium gold color with color that extends to the rim of the glass. It has light aromas of lemon, lime, white grapefruit, chalk, and white flowers. This dry wine has a moderate acidity and fuller body. There is a touch of honey amongst the citrus notes on the palate. All of which fade but notes of salinity are slower to taper off. This wine is a little subdued but lovely. The salinity and citrus notes would pair well with lighter seafood, such as shellfish or white fish.
-TheLooseTannin
A Trip Around the World of Wine in 52 Weeks 