Portugal’s Esporão Group introduces the 2021 vintage Monte Velho Rosé this month. Monte Velho Rosé joins the existing Monte Velho Red and White. All three are available nationally and line-priced at $12 SRP. (High-res bottle shot attached.)
Monte Velho Red, White and the new Rosé are made at the Herdade do Esporão estate by Sandra Alves, lead winemaker at Esporão Group’s flagship property in Portugal’s Alentejo region. Each is a blend of native grapes from Herdade do Esporão, rounded out by fruit from neighboring growers. Monte Velho Rosé is a combination of red (Touriga Nacional, Aragonez, Syrah, Trincadeira, Tinta Caiada) and white (Arinto) grapes.
“With Monte Velho Red and White sales exceeding 36,000 cases per year, and growing 12% annually, this line extension is a natural move. Esporão also took time to fine tune the new Rosé to ensure the quality measures up to the standards buyers have come to expect from this producer,” said Frank Paredes, president of New Jersey-based NOW Wines, Esporão’ Group’s U.S. importer.
The Monte Velho line outperformed the $8-$12 imported wine category in general, which otherwise experienced a decline of 8.6% in 2021 versus 2020, according to SipSource data. Monte Velho Red is one of the top three best-selling Portuguese reds in that price range. The brand benefited from an increase in key retailers seeking Portuguese wine. Markets including Texas, Florida, California, Michigan, and Ohio experienced double-digit growth. Currently 30% of Monte Velho sales are on premise, 70% off premise. With more restaurants set to reopen in 2022, further growth is likely.