A biodynamic Pétillant Naturel (Pét-Nat) from the Vinho Verde region, representing a non-disgorged, ancestrally sparkling expression of native Portuguese grapes.
The blend is predominantly composed of the red grape Espadeiro (80%) for color and body, with a minor addition of the aromatic white grape Loureiro (20%). The winemaking employs a highly traditional and low-intervention approach: the hand-harvested Espadeiro grapes are destemmed, foot-stomped, and introduced into large, centuries-old terracotta talhas (amphoras). Following a signature Bojo do Luar technique, ground chestnut flowers are added as a natural stabilizer, allowing minimal or no added sulfur. The Espadeiro begins its spontaneous, wild-yeast fermentation in the talhas and, before completion—while a crucial amount of residual sugar remains—the must is pressed off the skins, blended with the Loureiro, and bottled under a crown cap to finish fermentation in the bottle, capturing the natural carbon dioxide (the méthode ancestrale).
This results in a wine with a typically hazy, inviting orange-sunset or pink-salmon hue and a persistent, creamy, frothy mousse. On the nose, the Luiza delivers a lively aromatic profile of fresh red berries—notably bright strawberry, tart raspberry, and cherry—layered with a contrasting citrus zest and a hint of white floral complexity contributed by the Loureiro. The palate is intensely lively and effervescent, defined by a crisp, well-balanced acidity and flavors of candied red fruits and tart cranberries. While easy-drinking, it exhibits a subtle pithy grip and a refreshing, delicate minerality on the finish, embodying a joyful, complex, and unadulterated expression of Vinho Verde terroir.
