Grape ID | Gouveio
May is Gouveio month - a white grape variety full of personality, balance, and freshness.
For years, confused with the Verdelho of the Azores and Madeira, the Gouveio variety has earned its place in the vineyards of mainland Portugal, especially in the Douro, where it is a regular presence in quality white wines.
With medium-sized bunches and small, yellowish-green grapes, it stands out for its high natural acidity, good structure, and ability to produce wines with an excellent balance between alcohol and freshness.
Gouveio wines are aromatic, with notes of white fruit (peach, pear, and apple), citrus flavours (grapefruit, lemon zest, etc.), hints of aniseed, and a background of white flowers and fresh herbs. Their profile is sometimes enriched by light vanilla or toasted oak notes, particularly when aged in oak.
On the palate, they are full-bodied but elegant, fresh but persistent, with a natural tension that makes them ideal for pairing with gastronomy. They have the potential to evolve in the bottle.
Its versatility and resistance to loss of acidity make it an expanding variety, especially in warmer regions such as the Alentejo. But it's in the Douro - and particularly in high-altitude terroirs such as those in the Távora Valley - that Gouveio brings out its best, balancing structure and aromatic expression with a vibrant acidity that gives it its identity.
In our Quinta do Convento White wine, Gouveio appears in the blend, contributing freshness, tension, and aromatic complexity. An essential presence in the wine's personality.
