(long drum roll, rising cymbal, applause, delighted exclamations, laughter, and then bubbling chatter…)
An entertaining rosé, an absolutely delightful companion wine, an amazing table hero, a distinctive Portuguese, a bouquet of aromas, a reliable performer in the pale pink trend, a balanced and stylish presence, a gentle and charming companion, a price wonder—if you even dare think about money here—and whatever you were expecting, it's that too. Monte dos Amigos Rosé, dear friends!
A lively red wine, juicy, stylishly spicy, succulent, robust, softly tannic, ripe cherry, pleasantly berry-like, deliciously fruity, harmonious, long, flavorful, elegantly toasty, plummy, currant-tart, excellent in quality, an affordable buy, ready to drink—did you already get your glass out? Monte dos Amigos Tinto, dear friends!
Friendship is worth celebrating
Monte dos Amigos wines were made to celebrate friendship. They are truly easy to enjoy and very pleasant. Just like friends. As a small caveat, it's worth remembering that friends know you completely and love you anyway. According to Spanish writer and philosopher Baltasar Gracián, no desert is as sad as living without friends. Friendship multiplies the good and divides the bad. It is the only weapon against misfortune and a refreshment for the soul.
So pour wine into your friend's glass, because wine is at its best when shared among friends. Smile and you'll gain friends; frown and you'll get wrinkles.
Pink, indeed
"Lots of colors, preferably pink," sings Jukka Poika in his song about a special gig he's sensing. "Bright pink is the trending color," raves Radio Nova. "Pink is everywhere now," assures Iltalehti.
The pale pink color, of which pink is one shade, has been a gendered color for decades and a kind of statement—for example, as the color of a man's shirt and tie. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Pale pink is here in full force.
Rosé has long been absent from Finnish wine glasses. For years, experts and wine writers have predicted that rosé would become a boom, but time after time the final numbers have remained lackluster.
But now: during the pandemic year of 2020, Alko sold 40 percent more rosé wine than the previous year. Wine lovers have discovered rosé. We're not quite French yet—they enjoy rosé wine almost twice as much as white wine. However, the change is clearly underway.
Portuguese rosé riding the wave
Casa Relvas's Monte dos Amigos Rosé is a truly trendy wine. Portuguese wines are experiencing a strong boom thanks to their distinctive grape varieties and rich flavor profiles. Their prices are also remarkably wallet-friendly given the quality of the wines. Plus, rosé is the style-conscious wine right now.
Monte dos Amigos has been given the descriptor Entertaining Rosé on its label. It doesn't just tell of an easy-to-enjoy companion wine that's approachable, but of a carefully crafted wine whose slight sweetness supports its fruitiness, opens up its rosy freshness, and gives it additional dimensions when approaching the table's offerings.
Rosé is versatile
Rosé wine is not lukewarm red wine, it's not tinted white wine, but a wine in its own right. The flavor range of rosé wine is broad, from very light and crisp wines to richly flavored and multifaceted personalities. The finesse scale also extends from the absurdly expensive rosé versions of luxury champagnes to straightforward everyday pleasures.
Rosé is not limiting—it can be enjoyed in a tuxedo at evening parties just as well as in shorts at a picnic. Perhaps this describes our hedonistic times in a certain way: everyday life is valuable, and at parties there's no hesitation to break from old patterns—relaxed and enjoying. And we didn't invent this ourselves; over the years I've been amazed at how rosé wine is enjoyed at many tables in Europe's finest restaurants—especially in summer. Rosé is a happy dimension at the table of the bold combiner and curious cook—more flavor pairings, more freshness, and more trendiness.
Sweetness works as a counterpart
Casa Relvas's Monte dos Amigos Rosé contains 12 g/l of sugar. That's not very much for a crisp, acidic wine; many dry sparkling wines contain the same amount of sugar. That small amount of sugar makes this wine more approachable for many, and less experienced palates won't turn sour. It's excellent for a companion wine that you'll happily enjoy a second glass of.
At the dinner table, it gives many enjoyed bites a sweet-salty tension that's familiar from, say, the pinch of salt added to sweet roll dough or the sugar added to salted fish. How good does a piece of sweet honeydew melon taste with salty, air-dried ham.
Sugar also gives the wine extra punch as a pairing for spicy foods. Spicy Asian dishes are perfect companions for Monte dos Amigos Rosé, and I'd readily pour it into my glass with Mexican bites too, even though I can already feel heated stares on my neck—no matter, I'm a gringo.
Portugal is a treasure trove of red grapes
Castelão and Touriga Nacional are excellent examples of Portugal's indigenous red grape varieties. There are plenty of them, as the grape bible Wine Grapes (Robinson, Harding, Vouillamoz) lists with certainty 77 different varieties as Portuguese, with regional synonyms excluded. Portugal has very old mixed vineyards in some places, growing over a hundred varieties, which their growers consider their best vineyards.
Fortunately for wine lovers, this wonderful diversity is riding the trend wave. Rich flavors, distinctive wines, the ability to choose wines suitable for many occasions and many budgets are Portugal's strengths. This applies exactly to the Alentejo region as well, where Monte dos Amigos comes from.
A trip to Alentejo
Alentejo is located in central Portugal at the latitude of Lisbon. There's always enough sun for perfect wine ripening. Work in the vineyard, canopy management, and choosing the right varieties prevent the sun from drying the grapes into raisins. The landscapes are enchanting; this is wonderful territory for wine tourists. The roadside sign rota dos vinhos do Alentejo shows you the way. Postcard landscapes, hilltop fortresses, white-walled villages, winding vineyards, and rural peace all create their part of the atmosphere.
Here you can't stop for a quick lunch, because such a thing is unknown. Generous appetizers require a glass of good wine, and you can't possibly think of pork cheeks braised in red wine without asking for a suitable red to go with it. You'll surely find one. Local food and local wine are the reason to come here. They are a source of local pride.
Fruit aromas dominate the red wine
Casa Relvas's Monte dos Amigos Entertaining Red is made from Aragonez, Syrah, and Touriga Nacional grapes. The grapes were mechanically harvested in the cool of night, stems were removed, and berries were macerated for 48 hours before fermentation in refrigerated tanks. During malolactic fermentation, oak staves added an extra dimension to the wine. Ten percent of the wine aged in large 400-liter barrels for six months.
Monte dos Amigos Entertaining Red is a beautifully ruby-red wine. In this modern-style wine, fruit aromas play a central role. There are plenty of them. The nose shows dark berries, with cherries, boysenberries, currants, spices, and chocolate. The taste is softly fruity, richly berry-like, supple, long, and balanced. The juicy wine is silky-tannic and easy to approach.
True to its name, Monte dos Amigos Entertaining Red is a tasty companion wine, but it also pairs wonderfully with grilled meat that has sweetness in its barbecue sauce or glaze, salty cheeses, and savory snacks.
And we mustn't forget chocolate lovers. I've met wine-loving people who have convinced me that chocolate cannot be eaten without red wine. Monte dos Amigos Entertaining Red is an outstretched hand in their direction.
Casa Relvas is a responsible producer
Values guide many consumers' choices; small acts are big acts. Casa Relvas wants to produce quality wines for all of life's moments; wines that bring to mind good times, wines that are Alentejo's gift to the world. Vineyards alone are not enough for them—the company owns three times as much cork-producing forest and olive groves compared to vineyards. Sheep eat the weeds from the fields. Rivers, trees, birds, insects, fungi, and soil are the focus of special attention. Minimizing and recycling water use has been a major project. The producer has been granted Earth Friendly winery status and implements numerous environmental protection projects alongside wine production. Relvas also implements sustainable development through social and economic projects. There are a hundred families in the area working in partnership with Casa Relvas. The company feels responsible for their well-being. Five percent of Relvas's production is certified organic wines.
All Monte dos Amigos wines are suitable for vegans.
