Niepoort Poerinho

Learn More About This Wine

The Poeirinho is a wine produced solely from the grapes of the Quinta de Baixo vineyards. These are grown organically and carry the SATIVA certification. Poeirinho, whose name refers to the former designation of the Baga grape variety, is a tribute to the great Bairrada wines of the past, which were light in colour and low in alcohol but offered a tremendous ageing potential. Dirk Niepoort’s great passion for this grape variety and the fantastic terroir of the Bairrada region gave inspiration to acquire a number of small but very old Baga vineyards sites around the Cantanhede area. 

The 2021 vintage saw some unexpected rain showers, which made it more challenging to control disease pressure. Despite this, they managed to maintain the vineyards’ good health. Spring brought some spikes in temperature, which meant that the grapes ripened earlier and that the harvest was brought forward. Harvesting began with the white wine grapes on 26 August, and concluded with the reds on 26 September. It was a good year, characterised by balanced acidity, intense colour and lower alcohol levels compared to the previous vintage. 

This year, the Quinta de Baixo wines shine with elegance and freshness. The Poeirinho was made using grapes from various very old vineyard parcels. It was fermented in open lagares and in closed tanks where it went through carbonic maceration and where it remained for 4 weeks, before completing its fermentation in wooden vats. The wine went through malolactic fermentation in the used 2500L wooden vats, where it also aged for 25 months. It was bottled unfiltered.  

This wine shows a beautiful pale purple hue. Its aromas are linear, very delicate, and complex. Initially, floral notes and drier nuances such as tobacco appear, on a foundation of rhubarb, cherries and red berries, completed by hints of spice and mint. The palate offers a delicate structure; elegant but with tension and acidity that lend the wine longevity. A long, expressive, and spicy finish lingers in the mouth. 

Pair with roasted meats, specifically goat, oven-baked cod or vegetarian dishes based on legumes.