Anselmo Mendes Pardusco

If you're going to dive into Portuguese wine, you might as well start with a legend. Anselmo Mendes is the name behind some of the country's most authentic, and bafflingly good, wines from the Minho Valley.

We know Vinho Verde for its zippy, seaside whites. But then you stumble on a jewel like this—a red Vinho Verde that flips the entire script.

Pardusco is a name with history; it’s what they called the first reds from Monção exported to England in the 14th century. This one is a modern take on that legacy: a wild blend of local grapes like Alvarelhão, Pedral, Borraçal, and Vinhão.

It’s all bitter amarena cherries, freshly cracked black pepper, and a graphite soul—supple, accessible, and dangerously easy to drink. A perfect, no-fuss red that doesn’t need a special occasion, just a glass.