# Meandro do Vale Meão Tinto (2023)

- **Producer:** Quinta do Vale Meão
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Alicante Bouschet, Baga
- **Region:** Douro, Portugal
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €18
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** violet, blackberry, cherry, plum, vanilla, cedar

## About this wine

Purchased in 1877 by D. Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, the legendary Ferreirinha, Quinta do Vale Meão remains an iconic family-owned estate in the Douro Superior managed by her descendants. Meandro is crafted as the estate's second wine, capturing the complete terroir of the historic property by drawing fruit from unique schist, granite, and alluvial river gravel soils on the left bank of the Douro River.

## Interesting facts

- Grapes are traditionally foot-trodden in classic granite lagares for four hours prior to fermentation.
- Sourced from a unique trio of soil types across the estate: granite, schist, and alluvial river gravel.
- Quinta do Vale Meão was originally founded in 1877 by legendary Portuguese viticultural pioneer Ferreirinha.

## Food pairing

The structural tannins, vibrant acidity, and rich fruit concentration of this Douro red call for flavorful, protein-rich dishes and savory sauces. Fat cuts through the tannin while rich roasted notes complement the oak and dark berry depth.

## Wine making process

Grapes are destemmed, cooled, and traditionally foot-trodden for four hours in granite lagares. Each grape variety undergoes separate fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. The wine is aged for 14 months in 225-liter French Allier oak barriques of second and third use prior to bottling.