white grape · regional specialty
Viosinho
Portugal, Douro
Say it
vee·oh·zeen·yo
nh is the palatal ny sound, the same as Spanish ñ.
On the palate
chamomilequincepineappleripe citrusplum
How you spot it blind: full-bodied Douro white with chamomile notes and moderate to low acidity
The story
First written down · 1822, Douro, Portugal
Sources trace early mentions to Douro as Véozinho Verdeal in 1822 and with the current name in 1900, which cited Sabrosa in the Douro; Wines of Portugal describes it as transmontana in origin. It long survived scattered in old mixed white vineyards in the Douro and is now valued again, used for both white Port and still wines, but low yields have kept plantings small.
Where it lives
Douro, Portugal · Trás-os-Montes, Portugal · Lisboa, Portugal · Alentejo, Portugal
Shows up as
still whitefortified