Quinta da Fonte Souto Florao White 2025 is a fresh, elegant Portuguese white wine from Portalegre in the Alto Alentejo region. Made from 75% Arinto and 25% Verdelho, this unoaked blend combines lively acidity, aromatic freshness and a balanced structure. Produced at an altitude of approximately 500 metres, it offers a refreshing expression of Alentejo white wine, with an emphasis on purity of fruit rather than oak influence.
 
Florao is the more youthful and approachable range from Quinta da Fonte Souto, designed to express the character of the estate in a fresh, accessible style. Although intended for drinking young, the wine benefits from the same careful vineyard management and winemaking approach as the estate's other wines. Its character reflects the distinctive growing conditions of Portalegre, where elevation helps moderate the warmer temperatures associated with southern Portugal.
Quinta da Fonte Souto is a 207-hectare estate acquired by the Symington family in 2017, marking their first vineyard investment outside the Douro Valley. Situated in the Alto Alentejo, the property is distinguished by its elevated location and mature, low-yielding vines. These conditions contribute to wines that combine freshness and elegance with structure and complexity.
 
The 2025 growing season brought a mixture of favourable rainfall and warm summer weather. Although total rainfall was lower than in the preceding two years, generous winter and spring rains helped replenish water reserves. Summer temperatures were above average, but the estate's altitude provided some relief from the heat. Smaller berries and bunches reached full ripeness while retaining the acidity and aromatic definition needed for fresh, balanced white wines.
An important development during the 2025 harvest was the introduction of night harvesting for some of the estate's white grapes. Picking during cooler conditions helped preserve freshness, contributing to the lively character of the vintage.
 
The grapes for Florao White are hand-harvested into small, shallow boxes and transported to the estate winery. Following manual sorting, they are destemmed, gently crushed and lightly pressed using a pneumatic press. Fermentation takes place at low temperatures in stainless-steel vats to preserve the grapes' natural aromatic expression.
 
Malolactic fermentation is prevented, helping maintain the wine's crisp acidity. Following fermentation, Florao White matures for four months in vats without any contact with wood. Exposure to oxygen is carefully minimised throughout the process, allowing the fresh, primary fruit character of Arinto and Verdelho to remain at the forefront.
 
Under the direction of winemakers Charles Symington, Pedro Correia and Ricardo Constantino, Florao White 2025 offers a balanced combination of freshness, texture and aromatic precision. Its unoaked style makes it particularly appealing to those who enjoy crisp, expressive white wines, whether served as an aperitif or alongside seafood, salads and lighter dishes.
 
Tasting Notes
 
Nose: Fresh and aromatic, with a clean, youthful character that reflects the wine's cool fermentation and unoaked maturation.
Palate: Crisp and balanced, with lively acidity, fresh fruit character and a well-defined structure. Arinto provides the majority of the blend, complemented by Verdelho.
Finish: Refreshing and clean, with persistent acidity and a balanced, youthful character.