Vasco Wijnimport: Portuguese Wine Tasting in Amsterdam

Eight bottles lined up, all Portuguese, and a host who could place every parcel on the map. Special Wines Amsterdam ran a tasting evening with importer Vasco Wijnimport, and I got to pull up a chair. There may be one in here you’ll want to track down yourself.

Who is Vasco Wijnimport?

Vasco Wijnimport focuses on Portuguese wines that don’t easily turn up in the Netherlands. They supply the trade only, so you find them in wine shops and restaurants across the country, not on supermarket shelves.

Two glasses of pale rosé and a Fio de Oiro bottle on a boat table under blue sky

Dark red wine bottle with an ornate gold mask label resting on a wooden table

Arqueiros Tinto Portuguese red wine bottle next to an empty glass on a table

The tasting with my notes

I tasted eight wines, a slice of a portfolio that holds around 35.

Glass of red wine held up by a shop window looking out on an Amsterdam street

Three Portuguese wines and a Vasco card on a table with a box of strawberries

Flor d’Penalva Dao white wine bottle with a lotus flower label on a wooden table

Conde Villar Bruto Reserva Blanc de Noir. 100% Baga, made by the traditional method. Bright yellow with a fine mousse. Aromas of green apple, fermenting bread, brioche, herbs and citrus. Palate of green apple, brioche and spice with fine acidity and a clean finish. €17 to €20.

Ala dos Namorados. A fresh white in Vinho Verde style, grapes picked young and unripe. At 9.5% alcohol it stays light and fresh. Light yellow with a fine spritz. Nose of green and red apple with white flowers. Palate of green apple and pear with a light prickle and fresh acidity. €8 to €10.

Flor d’Penalva Colheita Selecionada. A field blend of six local varieties. Warm yellow, floral nose of rose petal, green apple and citrus. On the palate citrus, green apple, peach and orange with a hint of vanilla. Good acidity, soft finish. €15.

Fio de Oiro. A light rosé from Baga, my pick of the night. Built for a sunny terrace. Nose of strawberry and raspberry with a spicy edge. Palate of strawberry, raspberry, dried herbs and white pepper. Good acidity, low tannin, long pleasant finish. €16.

Flor d’Penalva Reserva. Warm red with ripe red fruit and vanilla. Strawberry, raspberry, cherry, plum, vanilla, sage and a touch of mint. €15.

Arqueiros Tinto. 66% Castelão, 33% Baga, sometimes called Portugal’s Pinot Noir. Light red with warm cherry, strawberry and spice on the nose. Palate of cherry, strawberry, vanilla and oak structure with supple tannins. €10.

Real Batalha. 33% Castelão, 66% Baga. The higher Baga share adds structure. Deep purple-red, very aromatic, concentrated red fruit, warm cherry and spice. Full and accessible with medium(+) tannins. €12.50.

Volte-Face Reserva Tinto. Eye-catching label with a mask. Aged 12 months in French and American oak. Deep red with cherry, bay leaf, vanilla, coconut, red berry and strawberry jam on the nose. Palate of spice, ripe strawberry, rosemary, liquorice and cocoa with medium(++) tannins and a long finish. €20.

Wrap-up

A good evening through the Vasco portfolio. A couple of bottles came home with me, especially that rosé did its job on a sunny afternoon. Thanks to Sofia and Silvia for the invitation. The line-up runs from €8 to €20, with limited editions of seabed-aged wines around €100. I’m sold on the rosé, but honestly I’d take any of these home.

More information about Vasco Wijn: https://vascowijnimport.nl/

More information about Special Wines: https://www.specialwines.com/

Prices in this article date from May 2023. Check the current price with the seller.