🥃 Aguardente Bagaceira da Região dos Vinhos Verdes

Aguardente Bagaceira da Região dos Vinhos Verdes is an EU-protected geographical name for a grape pomace spirit from north-western Portugal. It is distilled in the region from fermented pomace of local grapes no later than January after the winemaking. The strength is 40% ABV or more, and it is sold only in containers up to 1 L with a guarantee seal.

In Portugal the name has been protected by a decree-law of 2 February 1984; the EU register lists it from 13 February 2008. The technical file was submitted by the Vinho Verde Region Viticulture Commission (CVRVV), which also supervises the producers. The zone is the same as for Vinho Verde wine: the Braga and Viana do Castelo districts and part of four more districts.

The stills must be separate from other production and located in the region. The spirit is clear, colourless or from yellowish to topaz; aged versions labelled Old, Reserve, Very Old, VSOP and XO must be coloured and smell of ageing. The aroma should betray the raw material — the pomace.

The technical file explains the freshness of the spirit by the climate and the way the vines are grown: high training of the vines, nine subregions and mostly granite soils. A subregion or grape variety name may be shown only with a taster score of 6 points or more, and only in a glass bottle up to 70 cl.

Why this matters to you. The region's name means pomace from there, distillation on the spot and a seal on the bottle. The Alvarinho variety on the label is allowed only for the Monção and Melgaço subregion, and if only it is named, the spirit must be 100% from that variety. WHO reminds: there is no safe dose of alcohol.