Go wild, drink ‘Rewilding’ wine!
It’s been well known for some time that we at the editorial team are fans of Portugal, and certainly of the Douro region located there. Our love of wine is no secret either. So it was all the more fun when we recently got to discover a special Portuguese wine that also comes with a great story—for nature, that is. A win-win!
This is Altano, which is also the name of the warm wind that blows across the valleys of the Douro in summer. It is one of the defining factors in the climate where the vineyards are located, and is also a natural element that fits well with the emphasis the makers want to place on caring for nature in the region.
A little white, lots of red
The Symington winery—which may not sound very Portuguese, but has been making port and wine in the region for generations—is a family with Scottish, British and Portuguese roots. It already has the largest number of organically farmed vineyards in Portugal. In the Douro region, which is also where port comes from, around 90 percent of the grapes grown are red because of the climate, and only 10 percent are white. Yet they also make a very fresh and easy-drinking white wine from a blend of different local grape varieties. But with Earth Day just behind us, we’re now focusing on the house’s red wines, and in particular this one:
B Corp = doing good
Symington invited us to discover their wine, and specifically the wine they are especially proud of as a B Corp, alongside their organic red wine (also very tasty): the Rewilding range. Incidentally, B Corp is a certification awarded only to companies that operate according to highly controlled standards in the areas of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.
Go wild
Back to that Rewilding wine. Rewilding means restoring nature to the wild, and it is an approach aimed at restoring wild natural areas. Conservationists also try to protect these areas by safeguarding wild animal species, for example by creating corridors for apex predators and keystone species. Rewilding seeks to bring back parts of nature that take care of themselves, without the destructive influence of humans. This allows damaged ecosystems and landscapes to recover.
Responsible drinks
And no, this does not actually happen on the plots of land where wine and port grapes are so successfully grown. But the commitment to doing so is strong in places where the Rewilding Portugal association can make a significant impact. That is why this red Rewilding wine is now available—not only in bottles, but also in a cleverly designed bag-in-tube: the bag-in-box idea, but in a more practical round tube instead of one of those rectangular boxes with corners that always jab you in the thigh when you want to carry one in a bag to a picnic.
Giveaway
It contains 2.25 litres, or the equivalent of three bottles. The entire unit is recyclable and has a smaller carbon footprint than glass. The wine is also completely vegan and produced sustainably in a way that promotes biodiversity. Good for the planet, and very tasty for you. And even better news: we’re giving away a wonderful wine package containing, naturally, this wine (bag-in-tube), along with a matching bag, glasses and two cheerful hats.
Want to enter?
All you have to do is let us know under our Facebook post who you would like to drink this wine with. Make sure to do so before 17 May 2022, as that’s when we’ll announce the winner.
All Altano wines from Symington winery are also available at Gall&Gall and cost between €7.59 and €10.99.
Read also:
- City guide: 10x authentic Portuguese food in Lisbon
- 10 products people should keep their hands off
- 10x Try something other than pastel de nata
