Perched above the Dão river that snakes its way through granite valleys, the Adega de Penalva is one of the leading cooperatives in the area. The group boasts around a thousand member growers, but it’s important to note that the average holding per member amounts to barely over a hectare. From these small plots they craft simple but delicious wines with a real sense of place. This wine is 40% Encruzado, with 30% Malvasia and 30% Cerceal, hand-harvested, fully destemmed and fermented and raised in stainless steel. Light and crisp, with slightly heady aromatics, but completely dry on the palate, this wine is clean and refreshing, and has quickly become one of our favorite summer wines for cocktail-style sipping. And it also works well with fresh herbed salads.