Anselmo Mendes is a wine producer based in the Minho region of northern Portugal, working within the Vinho Verde appellation. The estate focuses on white wine production, with particular emphasis on expressing the characteristics of indigenous Portuguese varieties and their terroir.

Vinho Verde is known for producing young, fresh wines typically marked by subtle carbonation and crisp acidity. The region's maritime climate and granite-based soils create conditions suited to aromatic white varieties. Anselmo Mendes works with Albarino, a variety more commonly associated with Spain's Rías Baixas but grown selectively in this Portuguese region, where it reflects the coastal influences and mineral character of the Minho.

The current range includes Contacto Albarino, produced as an orange wine—a style made with extended skin contact during fermentation. This approach adds textural complexity and oxidative notes to the wine, distinguishing it from the region's typical pale, effervescent whites.

Minho is Portugal's northernmost wine region, stretching along the Atlantic coast from the Spanish border south to Porto. This verdant province encompasses the Vinho Verde DOC, Portugal's largest demarcated wine region by area and one of its most distinctive in terms of wine style. The region's proximity to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Minho River creates a unique viticultural environment that has shaped winemaking traditions dating back centuries.

The climate in Minho is distinctly Atlantic, characterized by mild temperatures, high humidity, and abundant rainfall throughout the year. This maritime influence, combined with granite and schist soils, creates ideal conditions for producing fresh, light wines with natural acidity. The Vinho Verde appellation dominates the region, traditionally known for its slightly sparkling, low-alcohol white wines that were historically consumed young and locally.

While indigenous Portuguese varieties like Loureiro, Arinto, and Trajadura form the traditional backbone of Minho's white wines, Albariño has gained significant prominence in recent years, particularly in areas near the Spanish border where it crosses over from Rías Baixas. Modern producers are experimenting with different winemaking techniques, including skin contact methods that produce orange wines, while maintaining the region's signature freshness and minerality. The combination of Atlantic influence, granite soils, and careful viticulture produces wines with distinctive saline notes and crisp acidity.

Vinho Verde is Portugal's largest demarcated wine region, located in the country's northwestern Minho province. The appellation extends from the Atlantic coast inland toward the Spanish border, encompassing the valleys of the Lima, Cávado, Ave, and Douro rivers. Established as a DOC (Denominação de Origem Controlada) in 1908, it covers approximately 21,000 hectares across this cool, wet corner of Portugal.

The region's Atlantic-influenced climate brings abundant rainfall and moderate temperatures, creating ideal conditions for producing fresh, crisp wines. Granite soils predominate throughout much of the area, providing good drainage and mineral complexity. Traditional training methods include the pergola system, though modern vineyards increasingly use vertical trellising. The appellation permits numerous indigenous Portuguese grape varieties including Loureiro, Trajadura, and Arinto, alongside Alvarinho (known as Albariño in Spain), which produces some of the region's most serious expressions.

Vinho Verde wines are characterized by their bright acidity, light body, and often subtle effervescence from residual carbon dioxide. While many commercial examples are simple and refreshing with citrus and green apple notes, single-variety wines from grapes like Alvarinho demonstrate greater complexity and aging potential. These premium expressions typically show mineral precision, stone fruit flavors, and the ability to develop honeyed notes with bottle age while maintaining their essential freshness and Atlantic character.