Vadio - Espumante Bruto Perpetuum

Sparkling white wine

Crisp, Biscuity, Complex.

So we've all had a cheap bottle of champas, right? 

And although we continue to drink it at festive occasions, a lot of us are probably wondering what all the fuss is about. Sound familiar?

But here's another question. Have you ever tried aged Champagne?

Now, this is where the real magic is. Suddenly, all of those serrated mineral notes morph into this wonderful biscuit and brioche-y deliciousness. The wines are rich and complex, and they tingle on the tongue long after the last sip has been swallowed.

Only issue is that these elite, aged wines can be pricey. If only there was another way...

Well, in fact, there is and that is to steal the technique that the Jerezanos of southern Spain use to age their sherries. The technique is known as solera estática and it is where new wine is mixed with old wine in a single vessel to rapidly age it. This is a trick the winemakers of Champagne have employed for a while and it has become known to produce consistent results of outstanding quality.

It was this that Luis Patrão of Vadio had in mind when he set out to produce his white sparkling wine. Luis is the maker of some stunning wines that do an amazing job of showcasing what the Bairrada region can produce and this wine is no different. 

To make it he works with a large wooden vat or foudre. In 2007 it was filled to about 3/4 full with wine. The wine was a blend of the varieties, Bical, Cerceal and Baga. After around a year of ageing, 2/3 of the wine was taken away for dosage and bottling, the remaining third was left in the foudre. Then when it came time for harvest, a new wine of the same blend was added to the foudre, topping it up to the 3/4 mark. (True fractions may alter but this is the jist ;) )

Since 2007, Luis has continued this process year after year as the blend continues to age further defining its character and getting richer and more complex with each vintage.

Now, with the latest vintage on its 15th lap around the sun, this wine is truly incredible. You have to taste it to believe it!