# Segredos de São Miguel Organic (2023)

- **Producer:** Casa Relvas
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Aragonez, Alicante Bouschet, Syrah
- **Region:** Alentejo, Portugal
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €9
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** lavender, blackberry, liquorice, raspberry, blueberry, chocolate, nougat

## About this wine

Segredos de São Miguel Organic is an organic red wine from Casa Relvas, produced in the Alentejo region of Portugal. The 2023 vintage is a blend of Aragonez, Alicante Bouschet, and Syrah. Casa Relvas, founded by Alexandre Relvas, continues a five-generation family tradition in winemaking, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and preserving the natural environment. The estate engages in practices such as reforestation and water conservation, earning them 'Earth Friendly winery' status. The Alentejo region's climate and soil contribute to the wine's character.

## Interesting facts

- Certified organic viticulture practices are employed.
- Grapes are harvested mechanically at night for optimal temperature.
- Casa Relvas is recognized as an 'Earth Friendly winery'.
- The wine has garnered awards in international competitions.

## Food pairing

The wine's medium+ body and silky tannins complement the protein in dishes like lamb and beef, while its fruit-forward character can stand up to richer flavors. Herbal notes in the wine can echo herbs used in cooking, creating a harmonious bridge.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process for Segredos de São Miguel Organic begins with mechanical harvesting of the grapes at night. Stems are completely removed, and the grapes are gently pressed using a pneumatic press. A 48-hour skin contact period precedes fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks at 21–25 °C. Malolactic fermentation is also carried out in stainless steel. Twenty percent of the wine is aged in 400-liter oak barrels, while the remainder matures in stainless steel tanks.