This Vila Ruiva Reserva red wine was produced by the Vidigueira, Cuba and Alvito Winemaking Cooperative, in the Alentejo wine region of Portugal.
The Vidigueira, Cuba and Alvito Winemaking Cooperative was founded in 1960, to protect the vineyards of this wine sub-region and to bring even more renown and quality to the wine produced here.
With an approximate production of 4.7 million bottles of wine per year and by its around 300 partners, today it is a modern and prominent winery.
The wine-growing history of the Alentejo region has been built over many centuries. The Roman legacy is one of the most important for this region, especially due to the wine-making technique in clay amphorae, which is still used today by many producers in the municipalities of Vidigueira, Cuba and Alvito.
Despite this ancient relationship with wine, vine growing was not always promoted in the Alentejo. There were several periods of crisis in this industry, namely with the Muslim occupation in the 8th century, or later, in the 18th century, with the forced uprooting of vines by the Marques de Pombal.
The recovery of the vineyards began in the mid-19th century and a golden age for Alentejo wines followed. In 1895 the first Portuguese Social Winery was created in Viana do Alentejo.
In the mid-20th century, the Estado Novo (authoritarian regime) indirectly repressed vines in the region once again by creating a cereal campaign that aimed to turn the Alentejo into «Portugal’s granary».
It was only in the 1970s that it was truly managed to revitalize wine-growing in Alentejo. In 1988 the first Alentejo-protected designations of origin were regulated and since then the vast and differentiated Alentejo territory has gained prominence with its wines winning countless national and international awards.
To the west of Vidigueira is Cuba, whose occupation dates back to 3000 years before our era. According to the legends, just as the origin of the word Vidigueira seems to derive from «vine», the name Cuba is said to have originated after the conquest of the land from the Arab people, when a large quantity of “cubas” (amphorae) for storing wine would have been found.
Also to the west of Vidigueira and Cuba is Alvito. Described as a «curious Alentejo town», Alvito was, in the 16th century, one of the main political centers of the Alentejo, a grandeur still evident in its architectural heritage.
This red wine is a blend of the Alfrocheiro, Aragonez, Castelão and Trincadeira grape varieties. The vinification in complete tanning at controlled temperatures between 25-30 ºC. Aging for 9 months in French and American oak barrels. 3 months in bottle.
A soft red wine with a medium ruby color.
Slightly vanilla and well-marked fruity aromas on the nose, reminiscent of red fruit jam, such as cherry and plum, with notes of fig.
On the palate, little body and structure, but it’s tasteful with intense flavors of ripe fruits. Balanced wine without sharp tannins or acidity. Medium persistent and very smooth finish.
Alcohol content: 14%
Consume this wine at about 18-20 °C of temperature.
Pairing well with the Portuguese octopus, black beans, chicken tacos or baked pasta.
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