The Bojo do Luar project came to life during a trip importer Savio Soares made to Portugal's Vinho Verde region. Interested in finding a local producer that worked in the more natural style he prefers, Savio met up with Fernando Paiva. Fernando is a biodynamic producer who has set the benchmark for non-interventionist winemaking throughout Portugal. Fernando already had representation but he knew of someone that might just fit the bill; Antonio Sousa.

At the time, Antonio was a practicing biodynamic grower but produced wine in a rather conventional way. After all, Vinho Verde has been pigeonholed into a land of lightly carbonated off-dry wines that are like Sprite for adults. The pressure is high to make wines like that since they are relatively cheap and quick to produce and are popular both overseas and with tourists.

Despite Antonio’s lack of interventionist winemaking experience, Savio was undeterred and saw this as an opportunity. With some guidance from Fernando, they chose to work with the traditional varieties of Northern Portugal. They took Savio’s knowledge and experience from decades working with Loire and Burgundy producers and matched that with Antonio’s winemaking prowess and openness to experimentation and created Bojo do Luar.

Vinho Verde is a beautiful region and as the names suggest, rather verdant with rolling hills and scenic river valleys. The region has a mostly cool temperate climate throughout Spring, then very warm days, and cool nights until the harvest in September. The parcels that Bojo works with are located near the Tâmega river, with deep granitic soils and south-south-western exposure, not too far from where it empties into the Douro River. They choose to work with five red grape varieties and three whites all chosen for their natural high levels of tartaric acids and low PH which translates into bright and fresh wines. Since these varieties have been grown in the region for centuries they tend to be more resistant to pests and maladies, hence a perfect choice for biodynamic agriculture.

The wines, simply put, are an absolute joy to drink. Each displays a unique expression of Vinho Verde but has that ebullient quality that has made this area and its wine famous. But unlike those common, carbonated concoctions these are real wines with clear and present terroir. Add to that the Portuguese tendency to produce stellar wines at a fraction of the price. White, pink or red they are filled with electric energy and bright, clear flavors: qualities that many of our favorite natural wines tend to share.

Most importantly, Bojo do Luar, along with a handful of other like minded malcontents are helping to redefine Vinho Verde. All are helping to reclaim lost traditions and styles as well as abandoned sites and varieties. They are planting new vineyards of these old varieties and farming them with sustainable practices that enhance the natural beauty and biodiversity of this lush part of the world. Unpretentious and deeply satisfying, these fresh, crisp and delicious bottles from Bojo do Luar are leading the way forward.