Quinta de Santiago & Mira do Ó Minho Tinto 'Sou' 2021

A family winery since 1899, Quinta de Santiago in the heart of Vinho Verde is now in its fourth generation led by Joana Santiago. She and her family tend to the vineyards personally, ensuring all work is done manually and with ecologically responsible methods. SOU is a collab between Quinta de Santiago and winemaker Nuno Mira do Ó. This juicy red is chillable and crunchy, an excellent choice for vegetarian meals, grain bowls, and cheese plates.

Within the designation of Vinho Verde lies a very special subregion: Monção e Melgaço. Wines from this region are profound and elegant, with supple structures and silky, limpid textures. The Santiago family has been farming these granite-rich soils for over a century — the farm was established in 1899, though it mainly produced olive oil, grains, meat and dairy. In 2009, at the insistence of the 86 year old matriarch, Mariazinha, they established a boutique winery focusing on small-production Alvarinho.

Mariazhina’s granddaughter Joana now heads up the team at Quinta de Santiago. Like her grandmother, she’s dedicated to expressing their unique terroir through the lens of remarkable Alvarinho wines. As we see in other granite-rich regions (Muscadet, the Northern Rhône), the wines take on a unique, savory minerality that simply begs for a second sip. The racy acidity of the wine makes it a natural pairing at the dinner table, whether you’re enjoying seafood, a simple pasta dish with fresh summer tomatoes or a salad with goat cheese.