Arinto

Arinto is one of Portugal's oldest white grapes, prized above all for keeping its crisp acidity and citrus flavour in a warm climate. Its classic home is Bucelas, just north of Lisbon, where it must make up at least three-quarters of the blend and can gain complexity with age; in Vinho Verde the same grape goes by Pedernã. A good arinto wine is the Portuguese answer for anyone who loves Chablis, dry Riesling or Albariño and wants something with a little more texture. We carry it in three guises: sparkling, oak-aged still and as part of a white Port.

Why Bucelas matters

Bucelas, in the Lisboa region, is a small appellation devoted entirely to white wine. Hills to the west shield the vines from the worst Atlantic weather, while the wide Tagus estuary to the east tempers the heat, and the soils are clay and limestone. That combination lets Arinto ripen fully without losing its bite. The history is long, too: wines from Quinta da Romeyra, linked to the grape since the sixteenth century, were carried home to London by the Duke of Wellington after the Peninsular War.

Our Arinto wines

Start with the Morgado de Santa Catherina Bucelas Arinto, rated 91 by Grandes Escolhas. Nine months in large French oak casks give it a broad, textured palate of stone fruit, lemon blossom and candied orange peel, with the grape's fresh acidity keeping it in line. For something to open first, Romeyra's Espumante Bruto is a traditional-method sparkling white scored 90: apple, white peach, a hint of brioche and a crisp finish. The third bottle is different again. Ferreira's Dona Antónia Reserva is a sweet white Port from the Douro with a small share of Arinto in the blend, full of raisin and marmalade lifted by bright acidity.

What to eat with Arinto

The Espumante is made for salty starters, from fried whitebait to croquetas. Pour the Morgado with grilled sea bass, roast chicken with lemon or a creamy bacalhau bake. The white Port is happiest chilled with salted almonds, or as the Portuguese drink it, with tonic and a slice of orange. Explore more of the country on our Portuguese wine shelf.

Is Arinto the same as Pedernã?

Yes. Pedernã is the name used for Arinto in the Vinho Verde region of northern Portugal. Bottles from Bucelas usually call it Arinto, and some labels show both names.

Can Arinto wine age?

The best examples, particularly from Bucelas, gain interest and complexity with bottle age, thanks to the grape's high natural acidity. Oak-aged versions such as the Morgado de Santa Catherina are built to develop for several years.

Is Arinto wine sweet or dry?

Most Arinto is made dry and crisp. Our sweet exception is Ferreira's Dona Antónia white Port, where Arinto is one of five grapes in a fortified, lusciously sweet blend.