Clarete is a traditional Dão style that blends red and white grapes in a single co-fermentation. Vizinho Vinhateiro’s version is made from at least 15 native grape varieties—including Jaen, Alfrocheiro, Tinta Roriz, Baga, Arinto, Fernão Pires, and Sercial—sourced from old co-planted vineyards aged between 50 and 90 years. About 20% of the grapes are white. Harvested in one day, the grapes are foot-trodden in a 300-year-old granite lagar, following local tradition.
After a 24-hour maceration, the must is pressed in a vertical press and transferred to oak barrels—a mix of used barrels and 10% new—for native yeast fermentation. The wine then rests on its lees for a year, unfiltered and with only a minimal addition of sulfur before bottling. This minimal-intervention approach highlights the energy and nuance of the old vines and mixed plantings.
The result is a pale garnet wine with a slight haze and a juicy appearance. Aromas of wild red berries, dried herbs, and flowers lead to a bright, fresh palate with soft tannins and a lifted, savory finish. It’s a vibrant, soulful expression of Dão—easy to enjoy yet quietly complex.