Viniou Reviews
Manoella 2021 is a red wine from the Douro Valley, one of Portugal's most celebrated wine regions. Crafted predominantly from indigenous grape varieties such as Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz (also known as Tempranillo), and Tinta Barroca, the wine is marked by careful vineyard selection. The 2021 vintage benefited from a mild winter and a relatively cool, balanced growing season, yielding wines with freshness and concentration. Manoella’s winemaking embraces both tradition and innovation: grapes are hand-harvested from schist-rich soils and vinified in stainless steel or concrete with gentle extraction, often followed by maturation in older oak casks. The resulting wine captures the essence of Douro—fragrant with wild berries, violets, and spices, supported by well-knit tannins and a subtle mineral undertone.
The Douro Valley itself is a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its dramatic terraced hillsides descending into the glimmering river below. With a hot, dry climate and unique schist-based soils, the area fosters intensely flavoured grapes with good acidity—ideal not only for Port but also for increasingly acclaimed dry wines. Viticulture has ancient roots here, and recent decades have seen a surge in quality and innovation among Douro producers, establishing the region as one of Europe’s most exciting sources of characterful reds.
Manoella 2021’s vibrant profile and svelte structure lend themselves beautifully to generous food pairings. It is a natural companion for robust meat dishes such as grilled lamb chops, beef espetada, or pork with smoky chouriço sausage. The wine’s freshness and gentle tannins also pair well with the regional speciality of slow-cooked goat or hearty mushroom rice. For cheese, try semi-hard Portuguese Queijo da Serra or aged Manchego.
To fully appreciate its aromatic complexity, decant Manoella 2021 for about an hour before serving. The ideal tasting temperature is between 16 and 18°C. This will allow its fruit-driven charm and gentle spice to shine through, promising an engaging and authentic Douro experience.
