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Zafirah Red 2023
13,90 €
Open ruby colour. Pronounced fruity aromas with a notable presence of strawberries and raspberries as well as a balsamic forest side. Deep and smooth on the palate, showing fresh red fruit notes and hints of spices (black pepper). Fresh, light and very fluid wine.
| Producer | Constantino Ramos |
| Region | Vinho Verde |
| Grapes | Alvarelhão, Borraçal, Pedral, Espadeiro and Vinhão |
| Soil | Zafirah aims back to the old tradition of red wines made in Monção region. Wines already mentioned on the charter donated by D. Afonso III to the village of Monção (1286). In fact, several historical data mention the shipment of red wine from Monção to England during the XIV, XV and XVI centuries acting as a replacement to the well-known Burgundy wines, which clearly states about the quality of the red wine from the region back then. So, using four small, trellised vineyards with more than 50 years old, I aimed to revive that style of wine. Wines open on the colour, light, fresh, with a stressed acidity, very graceful and with a moderate alcoholic level. |
| Winemaking | Blend wine where Alvarelhão variety is queen but well supported by Borraçal, Pedral, Espadeiro and a little of Vinhão. Handpicked grapes into small boxes, with a large selection at the vineyards where only the perfect healthy grapes are harvested in perfect conditions. Total destemming. 24h of pre-fermentative maceration followed by pressing. No skin fermentation. Fermentation of the juice in stainless stell (2/3) and used French oak (1/3). Six months of ageing. Crafted wine, nourished in all his process, with no pushing, respecting his will with minimal and surgical enological interventions and respectful of the wine character. |
| Aging | 6 months in used French oak barrels. |
| Capacity | 750 ml |
| Volume | Alcohol by Volume: 11,5% |
| Temperature | 12ºC - 14ºC |
| Harmonizations | Pappardelle with Roasted Tomato Sauce, Basil and Burrata |
| Wine's Awards | 17 Points - Vinho Grandes Escolhas (Wine Magazine) |
Constantino Ramos, born in Vouzela in the Dão region, graduated in Pharmacy from the University of Coimbra. He initially worked in the field but eventually left to pursue a Master’s in Oenology at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, following his true passion. Later, he met his mentor, the renowned winemaker Anselmo Mendes, with whom he continues to work to this day.
Constantino’s personal project began in Monção, where he discovered old vineyards in Riba de Mouro and Tangil, in the northern part of the Monção municipality. From these vines, he crafted his Zafirah. His goal was to make an elegant, graceful, and approachable wine that conveyed freshness while evoking the historic “Viana Wines” of the region. This low-intervention red wine pays tribute to the celebrated Monção reds that were exported to England and Flanders in the 14th and 15th centuries. An artisanal creation, it is “carried in the arms” through every stage of its production — unhurried, meticulous, and with minimal, precise interventions that respect the wine’s natural character.
He also couldn’t resist producing an Alvarinho that reflects his personal interpretation of the grape. Using a small vineyard near his red wine plots, planted at around 250 metres above sea level, he created his Afluente, seeking to capture tension, austerity and vibrant acidity.
Juca is his most recent project, a tribute to the people and traditions of Riba de Mouro, where wine has been made since the medieval period. This long-forgotten, sparsely populated region and the vineyards Constantino discovered are breathtakingly beautiful.
