Wine

Cauda Pet Nat. This sparkling wine from Alvarelhão, produced in the popular Pet-Nat style (Pétillant
Naturel or Méthode Ancestrale), first appeared in 2021. Alvarelhão is an autochthonous variety that is greatly appreciated and cherished. In this harvest Soalheiro produced a small amount to test its adaptability to Pet Nat’s vinification and the results exceeded their expectations. This project was developed at the
Soalheiro Innovation Centre, in partnership with Hugo Brito.

Cauda Pet Nat Alvarelhão is made with Alvarelhão grapes, a red variety with little color in the skin, from an old vineyard to the west of Monte de Faro in Valença, on the left bank of the river Minho, a territory where the Atlantic influence is felt, highlighting the wine’s minerality.

Region

The Minho wine region, also known as the Vinho Verde region, is located in the northwest of Portugal. It is one of the country’s most well-known wine regions and is primarily known for producing Vinho Verde wines. The Minho region has a maritime climate, influenced by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The climate is characterized by mild temperatures, high humidity, and frequent rainfall. These conditions are conducive to the growth of grapes and contribute to the region’s vibrant, green landscape.

Terroir

The Alvarinho grapes for this wine come from several small vineyards planted in granite soil, from 100 to 200 meters in altitude. This altitude maintains the freshness and aromatics we look for in our  Espumante Bruto Alvarinho . Monção and Melgaço region, the most northern point of Portugal, is protected by a range of mountains that create a microclimate with the perfect harmony between rainfall, temperature, and number of hours of sunshine. These conditions allow for the best ripening of Alvarinho.

Vinification

The free-run juice of Alvarelhão is separated and ferments in stainless steel tanks. At the end of the alcoholic fermentation, when the wine has about 18 to 20 g of residual sugar, it is placed in a bottle, where the remaining sugars ferment and gain the characteristic gas
of sparkling wine. In this wine, there is no dégorgement. Therefore, the yeasts responsible for fermentation remain in the bottle, providing it with cloudiness. Pet Nat differs from other sparkling wines, as the gas is the result of natural sugar from the first fermentation and not from the second.

Food Suggestions

Light salmon pink colour and turbid appearance. Fruity and floral aromas characteristic of Alvarelhão, with brioche notes. In the mouth it is structured, with present and balanced acidity. Fine, delicate and persistent bubbles.

The sparkling Pet Nat Alvarelhão, due to its profile, and like all the Pet Nats we produced by Soalheiro,
needs no food pairing. It can be drunk alone, as an aperitif in a conversation between friends, in the late afternoon in a bar.

Ideal serving temperature – 8°C.

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