Soalheiro Oppaco - Vinhão, Pinot Noir & Alvarinho 2022 Vinho Verde Tinto 75cl

Oppaco is the first red wine ever made by Soalheiro. The objective was to approach the region's red wines in an innovative way. It started in 2013 as a blend of two grape varieties from the region: the red variety Vinhão (“Sousão” in the Douro Region) and the white variety Alvarinho. Today we also include the Pinot Noir red variety, 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 the Vinhão, thus producing a delicate, elegant wine with a remarkable balance between tannins, alcohol and acidity. The name of this wine – Oppaco – results from this being Soalheiro's first red.

Terroir: The Alvarinho and Vinhão grapes come from a more inland terroir while the Pinot Noir grapes come from older vineyards with an Atlantic influence. This means that Oppaco is not only a blend of grape varieties, it is also a blend of terroirs.

Vinification: Oppaco represents a true innovation. In the Minho region, the Vinhão variety is expressed 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 pulp of the grape is red, producing a must that already has color. The grapes are pressed immediately after harvesting 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 is aged in new French oak barrels for 12 months.