Page 32 - Code de Vino, #17/23, a/w 2018

30 Feature story Code de Vino #17 Code de Vino #17 Vercoope (Vinho Verde region) 31

Vercoope Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Braga Cathedral

Braga
(Vinho Verde region) Braga is the largest city in Vinho Verde and one of the oldest in Europe.
According to the first historical accounts, in the 3rd century BC it was
inhabited by Bracari, a Celtic tribe. In the year 14, the Romans renamed
Author: Vasily Prytkov the settlement Bracara Augusta, and the city became the capital of the
Gallaecia Province. As the world transitioned out of Antiquity, the city was
taken over by Germanic peoples (the Suebi and Visigoths), and in 715 was
conquered by the Moors; at the end of the 9th century, when the Kingdom
of Asturias was founded, it became the base of the Reconquista's power
on the Iberian Peninsula.
Vinho Verde region Vinho Verde subregions
The southern border of Christian lands ran along the Douro river in the south
The Vercoope cooperative is behind Vinho • Monção and Melgaço of Vinho Verde, and the city was protected against the Moors by Knights led
Verde wines (Vinho Verde DOP). The region • Lima by a crown-appointed Count. This situation lasted until the 12th century,
is located in the historical Minho province • Amarante when young Count Afonso I the Founder, supported by the Bishop of Braga,
in northern Portugal with several smaller, • Ave proclaimed himself the Head of a new state, the Kingdom of Portugal,
in 1139.
adjacent territories. Vinho Verde is literally • Baião
• Basto
translated as "green wine," but a more precise Alfonso I the Founder was famous for the support he provided local
version would be "fresh wines" because • Cávado winemaking. According to a decree from 1172, he exempted winemakers
they are drunk young. • Paiva from any taxes for five years, after which the tax was to amount to one-sixth
• Sousa
of all wine produced.
Vinho Verde is part of the group of regions with
an Atlantic climate alongside the more southern
Bairrada or Beira Atlantico, Tejo and Lisboa.
Such wines are characterized by their crispness The largest city of Vinho Verde, Braga, is the oldest center
of Christianity in Europe. Alongside the Roman Rite, local
and pronounced aromatics, and Vinho Verde churches also adhere to the special Bragan Rite, including
is the undoubted leader in this respect.
numerous holidays of the Holy Mother which are only
celebrated here, such as the Betrothal of the Blessed Virgin
The region is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean Mary, the Joy of the Blessed Virgin Mary, etc. During the
to the west and two rivers, the Minho in the service, people kneel when Jesus' name is said.
north (the border between Portugal and Spain) The Bragan Rite emerged in the 6th century and
and Douro in the south. Vinho Verde includes was officially recognized by the Vatican.
nine subregions. Braga is the largest city Monastery of Bom Jesus do Monte
in the region.