white grape · regional staple
Arinto
Oeste / Bucelas region, Portugal
Say it
ah·rin·toh
Final 'o' in European Portuguese sounds closer to a soft 'u'; 'ah-RIN-toh' is an acceptable American English approximation.
On the palate
Body
medium
Acidity
high
Aromatics
medium
lemonlimegreen applegrapefruitwet stone
How you spot it blind: retains electric acidity even in Portugal's hottest regions with saline mineral finish
The story
First written down · 1712, Portugal
First described in writing by Vicêncio Alarte in 1712, Arinto is now the third most planted white variety in Portugal, anchoring the Bucelas DOC north of Lisbon.
Where it lives
Bucelas DOC, Portugal · Vinho Verde (as Pedernã), Portugal · Alentejo, Portugal · Tejo, Portugal · Douro, Portugal
Shows up as
stillsparklingBucelas DOC