Cortes de Cima “Chaminé”

ALENTEJO, PORTUGAL | 2023

Cortes de Cima, based in Vidigueira, in Portugal’s Alentejo region, is one of Portugal’s most exciting producers right now. This well-established winery changed its trajectory when Anna Jørgensen took over from her parents in 2019, shifting the focus away from more conventional farming toward holistic, regenerative, and organic agriculture. The goal is to make fresher, more elegant wines in a warm climate, while returning to the roots of the old farm, bringing back animals, embracing polyculture, and preserving the genetic diversity and heritage of the region.

The “everyday” values at Cortes de Cima start with the line called Chaminé. There is both a white and red version, and while we have previously featured the red, this month’s wine club features the white. The 2023 Chaminé Branco comes from vineyards located just 3 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean, near Vila Nova de Milfontes. The soils are sandy, silty gravels, and the blend is 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Alvarinho, 20% Moscatel, and 5% Loureiro. The grapes are handpicked, transported cold to the winery in Vidigueira, hand sorted, and slowly whole-bunch pressed. Fermentation is carried out with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel, while the Moscatel ferments with skin contact in stainless steel and talha before pressing and blending. Full malolactic conversion is allowed to happen.

We love this wine for its bright aromatics, with citrus, stone fruit, the floral lift of Moscatel, and a little herbal note on the nose that adds freshness and complexity. The palate is juicy and textural, but still crisp and vibrant, with crunchy acidity and a lingering saline finish. It is incredibly versatile at the table, but simply prepared halibut or a summer tomato salad with lots of herbs and mint would be ideal.