A fascinating, minimal-intervention sparkling wine that offers an honest look into the traditional winemaking past of the Vinho Verde region, specifically the lower Tâmega sub-zone. The wine is a calculated blend of Arinto and Fernão Pires, two varieties carefully sourced from old vines, some over sixty years of age, grown in the mineral-rich granite soils of the Quinta da Livração estate, which sits on the borderland between Vinho Verde and the Douro. Production is a cyclical homage to tradition, starting with the grapes undergoing a three-day skin maceration in ancient, 250-year-old granite lagares. This step adds textural grip and aromatic complexity that are uncommon in modern Vinho Verde. After initial fermentation in stainless steel, the true hallmark of this wine, and what gives it the "Looper" name, is the commitment to the méthode ancestrale, or Pétillant Naturel style. The wine is bottled before the primary fermentation, allowing it to finish in the bottle and trap the natural carbon dioxide. Furthermore, this process intentionally honors the traditional local custom of allowing malolactic conversion to complete in the bottle, adding an extra layer of rustic complexity. The wine is bottled without stabilization, filtration, or fining, and features no added sulfur, relying instead on the granite terroir's natural mineral-richness for stability.
In the glass, the Looper Pet Nat Branco presents a naturally hazy, unfiltered appearance, consistent with its production method, and showcases a lively, fine stream of natural bubbles. The aromatic profile is complex and savory, moving beyond simple freshness to offer notes of red apple, grapefruit zest, and subtle mineral nuances from the granite. The inherent character of Pét-Nat production brings a yeasty, bread-dough undertone, which beautifully integrates with a slight nutty, almost oxidative edge—a reflection of the minimal intervention approach. The wine is bone-dry and refreshingly light on the palate, yet the fine lees sediment provides a desirable silky texture and voluminous mouthfeel. The vibrant acidity of the Arinto is balanced by the fuller body of the Fernão Pires, resulting in an unpretentious yet captivating sparkling wine that honors its ancestral roots while appealing directly to the modern natural wine enthusiast.
