Joe Fattorini left me with this gem of a fun fact the other day: Arinto was The Duke of Wellington’s favourite grape variety, and he even had a side hustle importing “Lisbon Hock” (Lisbon white wine) to England after The Peninsula War. During the French invasions, the wine of Bucelas (made of the Arinto grape variety) seduced the Duke of Wellington so much that he was a regular consumer and also sent these wines to George III.
Well, if it was good enough for The Duke, it is good enough for me and you. But seriously, Arinto is a great white grape, and I am confident that you will enjoy it.
Arinto is one of the oldest indigenous grapes in Portugal. Like many Portuguese grapes, it has more than one name. In the Vinho Verde region, they call this grape Pedernã. Arinto grows all over Portugal. In Bucelas, a sub-region of the Lisboa wine region, it is the "queen of white grapes." To have the DOC on the label, a white wine from the Bucelas sub-region must contain 75% Arinto.
Arinto is a late ripening grape with medium-sized berries that are tightly packed. It thrives in chalky soil and is resistant to heat. It does well in dry regions. Yet, it is susceptible to drought and botrytis.
Arinto brings beautiful acidity and structure to a blend. Its high acidity and lack of a strong aroma make it a great sparkling base wine. Sometimes, you'll find Arinto oaked. If it is, it will have a richness like that of an oaked Chardonnay. A winemaker has the ability to do a lot with this wine. I cannot forget to tell you that it is great in a late harvest or fortified wine blend. Some Arinto wines have great potential to age too!
Quinta do Boição & Caves Velhas in Bucelas makes an Arinto you must try as it is the main grape planted at their vineyard. A great way to try the old Arinto wines which are more than 20 years old is to book one of their wine experiences such as the History tour and Wine Tasting, but all their experiennces are equally great.
For reference on where the Lisbon wine region is in the country, please refer to the below map.
