# Contacto Alvarinho (2024)

- **Producer:** Mendes & Symington
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** 100% Alvarinho
- **Region:** Vinho Verde, Portugal
- **Style:** Classic
- **Average price:** €17
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Aromas & flavours:** honeysuckle, orange, peach, pear, grapefruit, lemon

## About this wine

The Contacto Alvarinho 2024 is a white wine from the Monção e Melgaço sub-region of Vinho Verde, Portugal. It is produced by Mendes & Symington, a joint venture established in 2023 between Anselmo Mendes and Symington Family Estates. This vintage is notable for being the first release under this new partnership and for employing an older winemaking technique where the must has contact with the grape skins. The wine is made from 100% Alvarinho grapes, grown in a region characterized by granite soils and Atlantic breezes, which contribute to its unique profile.

## Interesting facts

- This wine uses an old process with grape skin contact for the must.
- It's the first vintage from the new Mendes & Symington partnership.
- The Monção e Melgaço region is known for its granite soils.
- The partnership combines two of Portugal's most respected wine families.

## Food pairing

The wine's vibrant acidity cuts through the richness of seafood and creamy sauces, while its subtle minerality complements the briny notes of shellfish. Lighter proteins are a perfect match, allowing the wine's delicate aromatics to shine without being overpowered.

## Wine making process

The Contacto Alvarinho 2024 is produced using a distinctive method involving brief contact between the grape must and skins, a technique that draws from older winemaking traditions. Following this, the must is gently pressed and fermented at controlled temperatures. This process is designed to enhance the wine's aromatic concentration and texture while preserving its inherent freshness. The grapes are sourced from the Monção e Melgaço sub-region, known for its suitability for Alvarinho cultivation.