Text João Pedro de Carvalho

The producer Joaquim Arnaud (Vinhos Arundel) in a partnership with the winemaker Tomás Viera da Cruz created the Alboroque 2012. A wine made and thought of to go with tapas/appetizers, a true “all terrain” with the ability to unfold in diverse fields, from canned fish, ham, cured cheese, olives, sausage, asparagus…

The name Alboroque comes from Arabic Alborok and means meal, a definition that perfectly fits the wine in question, a very dry white, whose inspiration in the Fino Sherry style is transported to the terroir of the vineyard of the Terra Larga (Salvaterra de Magos). Made from a blend of Arinto and Fernão Pires, rested under a flower veil, this wine stands out for its high acidity during the tasting. The oxidation resulting from the process, only gave it more complexity with a set of aromas and flavors in a different combination, plus the fresh and traditional floral and citrus aromas of Arinto grape and the more structured touch from Fernão Pires (Maria Gomes in Bairrada).

It is not a wine for easy consensus, the best way to understand it is with food close by. Serves well chilled and paired with some olives and a few thin slices of Iberian ham or “mojama” (Dried Salt Tuna) with a drop of olive oil and a few toasted almonds. All its freshness with touches of Reinette apple, slight salinity and notes of almond oil will create a magical connection with the food. In the meanwhile a friend opens up some canned sardines in tomato sauce with some toasted bread, next they dish up a few mussels in escabeche sauce and a plate of fried “puntillas de calamares” (deep fried baby squid) with a hint of lime. The wine is festive, joyful, continues to shine and at the same time cleans the palate for the next bite. It is now time for dinner, the main table is full of friends and a lot of other wines will be served and tasted … see you soon.