Uhm…we’ll take a case.

Alianca Vinho Verde $9I’m not really pushing the envelope by telling you that Portugal’s Vinho Verde is a damn near perfect summer wine. It’s super-low in alcohol (often under 10%) which is good for sitting in the sun; it has vibrant, racy acidity, which is good for eating with everything from peanuts to shellfish; and it often has a touch of frizzante, or a light dusting of bubbles halfway between a still and sparkling wine.And it’s cheap like borscht. But it’s not usually $8.95 cheap. And this li’l sports car checks all the boxes: it’s only 10%, it has a solid notes of citrus, a little note of citrus pith and just a hair of residual sweetness to keep it from being crazy austere. And it’s $9. Seriously, I think you should try showing up at your next dinner party with three of these as a hostess gift and watch everyone swoon (and you’ve spent all of $27).PS: a bonus little tip from or pal and wine educator DJ Kearney. It’s pronounced “vee-nyo vaird,” not “vee-no vaird-ay.” So now you know.

Neal McLennan

Neal McLennan

Neal McLennan is the wine and spirits editor for Vancouver and Western Living magazines, where he susses out the wonderful (and occasionally weird) options for imbibing across Western Canada.