Kim Uncorked: Welcome to my weekly wine recommendation.
Hi, I’m Kim, a passionate lover of wine, food, and any experience that brings the two together! In this weekly blog post, I share my thoughts on a wine that I’ve recently purchased from one of our local independent wine merchants. If you’d like to know more about me, I’ve included a brief bio following the post.
2022 Quinta da Raza Alvarinho
Vinho Verde D.O.C
Portuguese White Wine
Village Liquor Store
$30.34
C1 – 900 Main Street, West Vancouver
If you enjoy white wine with racy acidity, citrus and stone fruit flavours, and a touch of minerality, Alvarinho might be your new summer favourite. The grape, also known as Albariño in Spain, is one of the Iberian Peninsula’s most prized white varieties. It’s known for producing expressive, structured wines with a rich stone-fruit, citrus, and occasional tropical flavour profile, often with a hint of salinity that reflects its coastal origins.
Quinta da Raza is a historic, family-run estate (since 1791) in the Basto sub-region of the Vinho Verde DOC, a region famed for its youthful, “green” wines—named not for their colour, but for their freshness and the lush landscape they come from. These wines are typically light, aromatic, and slightly effervescent, with high acidity and low alcohol. Quinta da Raza’s 50-hectare vineyards benefit from granite and schist soils and a warmer, drier microclimate influenced by the Tâmega River. Known for sustainable practices and traditional methods, the estate produces fresh, expressive wines that reflect both heritage and place.
The 2022 Quinta da Raza Alvarinho is pale yellow with a fresh nose of green apple and lime zest. On the palate, it’s light and zippy with lively acidity, subtle effervescence, and flavours of green apple and lime. A saline note adds lift to the clean, refreshing finish.
Alvarinho pairs well with lighter dishes such as ceviche, seafood risotto, grilled vegetables, and herb-driven cuisine, complementing their fresh and delicate flavours.
Kim Mead is a Vancouver-based wine and food writer. She holds the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines with Merit, the French Wine Scholar designation with Honours, and Italian Wine Essentials certification. She is currently pursuing the Bordeaux Master's program with the Wine Scholar Guild. Kim serves as Cellar Master for the Vancouver chapter of the International Wine and Food Society and is a member of the Commanderie de Bordeaux. Follow her @agalandaglass