Arinto White Wine Variety

This is a Portuguese white wine variety from the region of Bucelas just north of Lisbon.  In fact the variety is also known as Arinto de Bucelas.

Arinto is one of the varieties which have been identified as able to thrive in hot dry climates and through heatwaves. Unlike many other white wine varieties it is capable of maintaining acidity through long hot summers.

In its native Portugal Arinto is the most widely grown white variety. It thrives in a wide range of climates and is used there to make varietal wines, as well as adding acidity and a steely backbone in blends.

Arinto is one of the varieties described in this article in Darby's Vinodiversity Community.

Australian winemakers have been impressed by Arinto's ability to produce zingy wines with citrus aromas. While it has very much the new kid on the block here Arinto certainly has a major role to play in the future, and perhaps in more regions than it presently grows. 

Stanton and Killeen are one of the pioneers of Arinto in Australia

Bay of Shoals Arinto from Kangaroo Island

Australian Producers of Arinto

There number of producers of Arinto in Australia is growing rapidly. By 2026 there are 27 producers.  At the end of 2019 I published my Rare Ozzies book with just seven producers listed.  

• 4382 Terroir Granite Belt
• Alejandro Riverland
• Alles Klar Riverland
• Amato Vino Margaret River
• Aravina Margaret River
• Bassham Wines Riverland
• Bay of Shoals Kangaroo Island
• Delinquente Wine Riverland
• Dogrock Winery Pyrenees
• Fin Wines Yarra Valley
• Inkwell McLaren Vale
• Linnaea Heathcote
• Lino Ramble McLaren Vale
• Livewire Wines Geelong
• Matriarch and Rogue Clare Valley
• McCarthy's Orchard McLaren Vale
• Mitchelton Nagambie Lakes
• Nikola Estate Swan Valley
• Olive Farm Swan Valley
• Ricca Terra Riverland
• Shaw + Smith Adelaide Hills
• Stanton and Killeen Wines Rutherglen
• The Other Wine Co Adelaide Hills
• Varney Wines McLaren Vale
• Whispering Brook Hunter Valley
• Whistling Eagle Wines Heathcote
• Wines By Farquhar Barossa Valley
• Witches Falls Winery Queensland Zone
• Zilzie Murray Darling

Medal wining Arinto

Alles Klar: Their 2024 Engertico was awarded a Bronze medal (Score 89.0) at the 2025 Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show (AAVWS).

• Aravina Estate: Received a Bronze medal (Score 86) for the 2025 Limited Release Arinto at the 2025 Western Australian Boutique and Single Vineyard Wine Show.

• Dogrock Winery: Their 2024 El Blanco, which is a blend featuring Arinto, Chardonnay, and Azal, received a Bronze medal (Score 15.5) at the 2025 Western Victorian Wine Challenge.

• Gapsted Estate: The 2024 Valley Selection Arinto was awarded a Bronze medal (Score 87.0) at the 2025 AAVWS.

• Lino Ramble: This winery had success across multiple years and shows:

    ◦ 2023 Dot To Dot Arinto: Awarded a Silver medal (Score 93.0) at the 2024 AAVWS.

    ◦ 2024 Dot To Dot Arinto: Received a Bronze medal (Score 87) at the 2025 McLaren Vale Wine Show. 

• Stanton & Killeen Wines:

    ◦ 2025 Arinto: Awarded a Bronze medal (Score 88) at the 2025 Australian Small Winemakers Show and a Bronze medal (Score 86.0) at the 2025 AAVWS.

    ◦ Their 2023 Arinto was also entered in the 2024 AAVWS but did not receive a medal.

• Whispering Brook:

Received a Bronze medal (Score 85) for their 2025 Arinto at the 2025 Hunter Valley Boutique Winemakers Show.

Iberian varieties used in Australia

These varieties, now used in Australia, all originated in Spain or Portugal

Albarino | Arinto | Cabernet Franc | Graciano | Grenache | Grenache gris | Macabeo | Mataro/Mourvedre | Mencia | Palomino | Pedro Ximenez | Prieto Picudo | Souzao | Tempranillo | Tinto Cao | Tinta Negra Molle | Touriga | Trincadeira | Verdejo | Verdelho

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You can learn about the regions of Spain and Portugal with this digital map

Learn about Iberian wine regions with this map

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This variety is one of the 190 grown in Australia. They are featured in the new book Beyond Shiraz. 

Details Here

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