Casa Agrícola Marmelar Branco 2021

The Casa Agrícola Marmelar Branco is an excellent white wine from the Vinho Regional Alentejano, a region in southern Portugal known for its rich wine tradition and ideal climate for grape cultivation. The perfect balance between sunshine and cool nights ensures that the grapes ripen optimally and develop beautiful complexity. This wine is a blend of three carefully selected grape varieties: Arinto, Antão Vaz, and Alvarinho, which together create a lovely balance and depth. The wine undergoes refined aging in French oak barrels, which adds subtle wood notes and a delicate complexity to the fruity and floral aromas. With an alcohol content of 13%, Casa Agrícola Marmelar Branco offers a medium-bodied experience, perfect for various occasions. Add this wine to your collection and discover the charm of Portuguese wine culture.    

     

The first striking characteristic of this wine is its beautiful appearance: a glossy golden color that immediately captures the eye. This refined hue is a direct indication of the careful winemaking process, including fermentation in barrels and the use of bâtonnage (stirring of the fine lees). This process contributes to the wine’s unique complexity and structure. The aroma is enchanting, with subtle notes of toasted bread, honey, and dried fruit, together forming a warm, inviting scent composition. On the palate, the wine is silky smooth, yet lively and fresh, creating a harmonious balance between richness and crisp acidity. The mouthfeel is full, with impressive persistence that lends the wine its elegance. The long finish emphasizes the freshness and complexity of the flavors. This wine is ideally suited to pair with refined dishes, such as braised scallops, Bulhão Pato clams, Caldeirada (a Portuguese fish stew), Cataplanas (traditional stews), grilled cod, or a rich partridge stew. The fresh, lively characteristics of the wine make a perfect counterpoint to the rich flavors of these dishes. To fully enjoy the Casa Agrícola Marmelar Branco, it is recommended to serve the wine at a temperature between 9ºC and 11ºC, allowing the aromas and flavors to fully express themselves.

Herdade do Monte da Ribeira was founded in 1958 and acquired in 1986 by industrialist Victor Carmona e Costa. Over the following 15 years, the estate underwent a thorough renovation, which included not only the renewal of the vineyard infrastructure but also the construction of a modern winery, along with the implementation of a completely new productive agricultural structure. The first vineyard of Herdade was planted in 1989, and the first harvest was achieved in 1992, after which the wines were marketed under the Vidigueira brand. Later, the brands Pousio, Quatro Caminhos, and, more recently, Marmelar were added. In recent years, the winery has further expanded and restructured, and today the vineyard covers 43 hectares. About a third of the total area is planted with white grape varieties, such as Alvarinho, Antão Vaz, Arinto, Roupeiro, and Verdelho, while the remaining two-thirds are planted with red grape varieties, including Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Baga, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Syrah, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Touriga Nacional, and Trincadeira. With a significant production of nearly 400,000 bottles of white, red, and rosé wines per year, Herdade do Monte da Ribeira has won numerous national and international awards and distinctions since the first harvest.