Gazela Vinho Verde

Grape: Alvarinho

Region: Douro Valley, Portugal

Vintage: 2009

Price: $7.99

In the glass: Gazela Vinho Verde is an almost glass-clear color with a light hint of a greenish tinge, star-bright appearance and clean core, going out into a slightly fizzy, colorless rim definition with medium viscosity.

On the nose: There are fresh, lively and zippy honeyed notes of winter melon, freshly cut zucchini, giant gourd, cucumber juice, green apple skins, white flowers and key lime rind.

On the palate: This delightfully light and easy to drink wine is slightly prickly, but has soft, freshly crushed northern gooseberries, white currants, honeydew melon, Granny Smith apple, lime zest, citrus peel and powerful hints of minerals. Going through the midpalate, the wine is very refreshing and finishes with a nice zingy and lively note of lemon drop and apple cider. There is good balance between fruit and acidity, making it highly attractive.

Odds and ends: Vinho verde, or "green wine," is made from grapes grown on vines that crawl up trees, poles and high fences. It is a handy choice for St. Patrick’s Day. It can be made with two grape varietals: the alvarinho, which is the same as the albarino grown in Spain and Portugal, and the loureiro. When it comes to vinho verde, we want that classic crisp and almost fizzy characteristic for drinking well-chilled to quench our thirst on one of these lovely spring days. This example of vinho verde from Gazela will take care of that. At this low price, it is especially attractive. It’s drinkable by the glass as an aperitif or with a light Dover sole meuniere. Drink it now through 2011.

Gil Lempert-Schwarz’s wine column appears Wednesdays. Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 89016-0749, or e-mail him at gil@winevegas.com.