You have to have a little bubbles in your life. Fact is all of us in the kitchen love bubbles. Sometimes Debbie will even saber out the back door. This particular even we uncorked a bottle of bubbles from Portugal – NV Sidonio de Sousa Espumante Brut Nature “Special Cuvee” with a base wine from 2015. This was the first bottle of bubbles from Portugal for all of us.
The wine is a blend of Maria Gomes, Bical and Arinto. These three grapes are all indigenous to Portugal and contribute different aspects to the wine.
Fernao Pires or Maria Gomes as it’s known in the Tejo and Bairrada region contributes a spicy aromatic character to the wine and some exotic fruity notes.
Bical is produced in the Bairrada region and is a high acid grape used in sparkling wine production.
Arinto is a white wine grape planted in the Bucelas, Tejo and Vinho Verde regions. It also produces high acid wines with ints of lemon.
The NV Sidonio de Sousa Espumante Brut Nature “Special Cuvee” spends 18 months on the lees. It has no dosage, is nice and dry with lively acidity. Nice lemon, green apple, and toasty notes. A hint of tropical fruit and very well balanced.
Chef’s pairing raw oyster definitely! Crab cakes and even some fried chicken.
I highly recommend this sparkling wine from Portugal! Priced so reasonable at $13, make it your house bubbly