White Blend, Beyra Reserva

50% Fonte Cal/30% Síria/10% Verdelho/10% Gouveio

Bright and racy, this white is all about tension and zip. Imagine slicing into a just-ripe peach, squeezing a lemon over it, then sprinkling a touch of sea salt — that’s the vibe. There’s a stony, almost chalk-dust edge that keeps the citrus fruit lean and precise, while the finish hums with clean minerality.

2021 in Beira Interior was a cooler year, which played right into the region’s strengths. The mountain vineyards held onto acidity and aromatics, letting the grapes shine with laser-like focus. The result is a Quartz Branco that’s especially sharp, refreshing, and mountain-stream clean.

The blend leans into native Portuguese grapes — Síria (a.k.a. Roupeiro) and Fonte Cal — fermented in stainless steel. No oak, no fluff, just crisp fruit and mineral cut, the way the winemaker wants the granite soils to speak.

Beyra is the passion project of winemaker Rui Roboredo Madeira, who came back to his family’s remote home turf after stints abroad. His goal: prove that Portugal’s overlooked interior mountain vineyards could rival the coast. Spoiler alert — he nailed it.

Beira Interior is one of Portugal’s highest and most extreme wine regions, with vineyards up to 2,600 feet above sea level. That altitude gives wines a lift and freshness that feels almost alpine — think Swiss mountain air but with Portuguese soul.