Lyma Vinho Verde 2023

If you want the best bargains, then Portugal and its white wine star, Vinho Verde are pretty hard to beat. Factor in that Lyma is the exciting new project from famed winemaker, Joao Portugal Ramos. All he’s done is been crowned 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2006 Winemaker of the Year from multiple European publications.

A new J. Portugal Ramos project should come as a surprise to nobody. This is what he does. The man actually won the 2008 Prize for Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture, and since then he hasn’t slowed down one bit.

The Lyma project is his chance to shine the spotlight on the underappreciated region of Vinho Verde as well as to honor the Lima River that runs west from Galicia thru all of Vinho Verde to the Atlantic Ocean. These are the white wines that should excite the Sancerre, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Albarino lovers – especially while the prices remain so shockingly affordable.

I had this at lunch last week, and I’m happy to tell you that it hits all the right notes. There’s a slight but noticeable effervescence there that kicks things off followed by a vibrant freshness and crisp acidity. It’s so light and refreshing that it’s one of those wines that is made for summer. Heck, it’s not too bad with some seafood either. After all, it is the Atlantic Ocean breeze that gives this a hint of saltiness and so much freshness.