- Silverstone's previous recommendations

Caves Velhas Arinto 1999

September 2000

Just 24 kilometres north-west of Lisbon in the valley of the Trancao River is the region of Bucelas. The white wine from this area has limited production, but the delicate grape - the Arinto - produces one of the best white wines of Portugal. In fact, officers in the Duke of Wellington's army returning from battle had a smile on their faces after their ordeal, because they had a generous amount of this elixir in their belly.

Real estate investors have been digging up the land in the region and developing it with anything but grapevines but Caves Velhas, being a considerate winery, has done its part to prevent further upheaval and devastation in the region.

The Arinto grape is thought by some grape scholars to be a transplanted Riesling brought into the area from its native Germany by a Teutonic crusader. The wine is straw coloured with a softly scented perfume and a pleasant very dry flavour. This is a very unique grape from one of the less trendy regions of the world

(unless, like me, you are an enormous fan of port - a totally different animal all together, but one which hails from the same country!). Thank your lucky stars I have discovered this wine, and be even more grateful, Leo Fox, the PA importer, was sensible enough to introduce me to it.

Alcohol 12%

Region Bucelas, Portugal

Grapes 100% Arinto

Food match Aperitif, fish, omelettes

Serve Chill for 20 minutes

Price in USA $8.39 (approx)

Best of the Red Bunch

- Silverstone's previous recommendations