Duo Terra Orange 2023
The vibe: Keeping things on the lighter side, this is a brand-spankin-new orange wine combining California and Portuguese fruit! A collaboration between Deux Punx in Napa, CA and Quinta do Montalto in Lisbon, Portugal, this wine combines fruit from both countries, merging native varieties and natural practices into something entirely new! Duo Terra (two lands) is a bold meeting of grapes and minds, fusing beachy California vibes with Portuguese tradition and terroir. It’s the perfect picnic popper with its aromas of dried pineapple and orange blossom and a grippy yet refreshing palate with bold peach skin notes and a touch of herbal tea.
The winemaker:
Deux Punx was founded by Dan Schaaf and Aaron Olson, two wine addicted ex-punks, in April of 2008. They utilize the facilities of Punk Dog Wineries, a shared space in the River East Neighborhood in Napa, which lends itself to the minimalist and experimental style of winemaking they capture in their wines. All of their wines are produced in the same manner – native fermentation, minimal so2, neutral oak, and ambient temperatures. Their philosophy is to let the raw materials from the vineyards express their true nature, embracing the differences between sites and vintages. Deux Punx believes wine is meant to be shared and enjoyed, not cellared and ignored. We can get down with that!
Quinta do Montalto not only dates back to the year 1880 (five generations) but is one of very few wineries that makes a beautiful local wine from the 1100s in the same traditional way it has always been made. Now, this wine lies within the DOC of Medieval de Ourém Encostas d'Aire. In general, their wines are labeled Vinho Regional Lisboa, because they are in farthest-north area of Lisboa (previously Estremadura), between the villages of Ourém and the famed Fátima (where the Blessed Virgin Mary was said to appear to three children in 1917). Montalto is perched in the middle of 50 hectares of certified organic land, and just 15 hectares are vineyards--the rest is dedicated to fruit, gardens, and forest. All of their native varieties are beautifully illustrative of the grapes and area, as they use native yeasts for the fermentation of their Medieval and red wines, very neutral oak, and light filtering methods. Montalto wines are pure, expressive, an incredible value, and a wonderful representation of what the region is known for.
The geeky details: Malvasia, Assyrtiko, Picpoul, Sémillon, Bourboulenc and Fiano from CA with Siria and Fernão Pires from Lisboa, PT.
Serve: With a chill.
Food pairing: Coastal fare. Umami flavors. Spicy or fruity sauces. A big bowl of cantaloupe sprinkled with Tajin. Mini shrimp rolls with a side of tangy plum sauce.
Album pairing: Chaos In The CBD - Midnight in Peckham EP