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Quinta Cova da Raposa

Alvarinho 2018

Price: $27.95
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Tasting notes

This is Alvarinho made with no sulfite additions and zero fining or filtration — unusual for a variety that is almost always produced in a squeaky-clean commercial style. The granite-sandy soils of Braga give it real stony grip alongside classic grapefruit and white peach, and the 2018 vintage has enough bottle age to show early complexity without losing its varietal snap.

BodyFruitTanninAcidity
GrapefruitWhite PeachHoneysuckleMineral
  • Style: Dry, medium-bodied white; pale straw; grapefruit, white peach, honeysuckle, granite mineral; zero sulfites added; 2018 vintage
  • Grapes & Terroir: 100% Alvarinho; certified organic; granite-sandy soils, south-facing terraces, Braga, Vinho Verde DOC
  • Winemaking: Spontaneous fermentation in temperature-regulated stainless steel; no sulfites added; bottled unfiltered and unfined
  • Serving: Serve at 46-50F (8-10C); open 20-30 min before serving
  • Pairing: Grilled sardines, bacalhau fritters, clams, seafood risotto, goat cheese, citrus-dressed salads
  • Similar To: For fans of mineral-driven, no-sulfite white wine with the structure of Alvarinho and the transparency of natural winemaking

Quinta Cova da Raposa sits on terraced, granite-sandy hillsides on the outskirts of Braga, within the Vinho Verde DOC. The 3-hectare farm grows Alvarinho as its primary variety alongside Avesso and Trajadura, all farmed organically and with some biodynamic practices. Soils are granitic and sandy with southern exposure, conditions that concentrate flavor while preserving the variety's naturally high acidity.

This 2018 Alvarinho is made from 100% organically grown Alvarinho grapes. Winemakers Manuel Taxa and Elisabete Raposo ferment with spontaneous (native) yeast in temperature-regulated stainless steel tanks. No sulfites are added at any stage — the estate has produced zero-sulfite wines since 2016 — and the wine is bottled unfiltered and unfined. Annual production across all wines is approximately 7,000 litres.

On the nose, expect grapefruit, white peach, and honeysuckle with a pronounced stony minerality. The palate is concentrated and dry, with the mouth-watering acidity typical of Alvarinho from granite-soil terroir. The no-sulfite, unfiltered approach gives the wine a slightly more textured feel than most commercial Alvarinho. A 2018 with several years of bottle age may show early tertiary development alongside the varietal citrus and stone fruit core.

A natural match for grilled or fried seafood — bacalhau fritters, grilled sardines, or clams with garlic and white wine. The high acidity and mineral finish also cut through rich dishes like seafood risotto or salt cod. Works well with soft goat cheese or lightly dressed green salads with citrus vinaigrette.

Wine details

Dry/Sweet:, Dry
Wine Type:, White Wine
Wine Style:, Medium Body
Grapes:, Alvarinho
Farming:, Organic
Vintage:, 2018
Alcohol:, 12.5%
Country:, Portugal
Region:, Vinho Verde
Appellation:, Vinho Verde DOC
Bottle Size:, 750ml
Sugar Level:, Zero Added Sugar

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.


Important Compliance Requirements

FedEx and other carriers we might occasionally use can only deliver wine to customers who are 21 years or older. Someone must be at the address to receive the package, carriers don't just drop a package and leave. They must ensure the person receiving the wine is 21 or older.


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If you'd like to receive a refund for a package that was returned to us after FedEx made three delivery attempts, we can do that but we must keep a $20 refund fee; FedEx charges us a lot of money for returns, unfortunately, I can't stress this enough.


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If you'd like to reroute a package after it's been shipped, we can do so for a $20 re-routing fee. We cannot re-route a package across state borders. For any change of address, please contact us as soon as possible, ideally within 1-2 days from placing the order or we cannot guarantee we'll be able to reroute or change your order's shipping address.


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If you'd like to cancel an order after it's been shipped, we can do so upon payment of a small cancellation fee – the amount depends on the size of the order. Carriers charge us a lot of money to recall a package en-route.


Heat/Frost damage

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Placed an order. What next?

1. You will receive an order confirmation email with your order summary.*

2. As soon as your order ships from the warehouse, usually within 2-3 business days, this applies to all shipping rates, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with your tracking information. 2DAY shipping refers to shipping time; we still need 2-3 business days to prepare an order. We need to pick and pack, QA, add printed collateral, and palletize the orders.

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4. The carrier will attempt delivery a maximum of 3 times. After 3 delivery attempts, your package will be sent back to our warehouse.**

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**If delivery is attempted 3 times without success, or if you fail to retrieve your package from the carrier depot by the stated deadline, the shipping fee will not be refunded to the customer.

Returns Policy

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us at (424) 414-2040 or via e-mail at hello@primalwine.com between 9 am and 5 pm Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Sunday, we would like to understand and try to solve your concerns. We can offer refunds only as store credit.

Producer profile

Quinta Cova da Raposa

Quinta Cova da Raposa was founded in 1997 by Manuel Taxa and Elisabete Raposo on a hillside on the outskirts of Braga, in the Minho. The name translates literally as Fox Den Farm. From the start, the focus was on restoring ecological balance across the property. The farm covers 3 hectares of granite-sandy, south-facing terraced vineyards planted primarily with Alvarinho, alongside Avesso and Trajadura.

The estate is certified organic and incorporates biodynamic practices. Ground cover is maintained throughout the vineyard, and fertilizers are derived from composting of organic matter on the farm. In addition to vineyards, the property grows nearly 30 varieties of fruits and vegetables, medicinal herbs, and aloe vera, maintains beehives for honey production, and raises local breeds of sheep, chickens, and rabbits — functioning as a fully diversified small farm rather than a dedicated wine estate.

Since 2016, no sulfites or other chemical additives have been used in any wine produced at the quinta. Fermentation is spontaneous, using only native yeasts, and takes place in temperature-regulated stainless steel tanks. Wines are bottled unfiltered and unfined. Annual production is approximately 7,000 litres across all wines.

Wine region

Vinho Verde, Portugal

Vinho Verde DOC covers the historic Entre-Douro-e-Minho territory of northwestern Portugal, bounded by the Minho River to the north, the Atlantic to the west, and the Douro River near Porto to the south. The region is divided into nine sub-zones. Quinta Cova da Raposa sits near Braga in the Cávado sub-zone, where the climate is distinctly Atlantic and cool, with annual rainfall around 1,200mm. Soils across the region are predominantly granitic, giving wines their characteristic minerality and citrus-driven character. The high, ventilated vine training systems traditional to Vinho Verde help manage the persistent humidity.

Alvarinho is the most prized white grape in Vinho Verde and the only variety permitted as a 100% single-varietal wine in the Monção e Melgaço sub-zone — the northernmost area along the Minho River. Outside that sub-zone, as at Quinta Cova da Raposa near Braga, Alvarinho is bottled under the broader Vinho Verde DOC. The variety is known for intense citrus and stone fruit aromatics, high natural acidity, and a stony minerality drawn from the granite soils it thrives in. Permitted white varieties across the DOC also include Avesso, Loureiro, Arinto, Azal, and Trajadura.

Frequently asked question

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.

Signature on delivery is mandatory for wine deliveries. Please make sure someone is at the shipping address to sign for the package.

If applicable, please consider delivering the package to a business address to ensure someone is available to sign for the package.

We also have the option of delivering the package to a Carrier's store for pickup. Please reach out to us to coordinate.

Carrier will try to delivery a package up to three times before returning the package to us.

See here our shipping policy.

If you miss a delivery and a package gets returned to us we have two options:

1) Reship the package right away: due to the very high cost of shipping and returns, we must charge a re-shipping fee to be determined based on package size and shipping destination.

2) Consolidate the returned package with your next order: this option is free of charge and it's the most popular option.

See here our shipping policy.

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