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.

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

Arinto Grapes at Dog Rock

So far there are only a few producers of Arinto in Australia (twelve as of April 2021).  But that number is sure to grow. At the end of 2019 I published my Rare Ozzies book with seven producers listed.  Included in the book are comments from Bassham, Ricca Terra, Whistling Eagle and Stanton and Killeen.

• Alejandro Riverland
• Amato Vino Margaret River
• Bassham Riverland
• Bay of Shoals Kangaroo Island
• Delinquente Wine Riverland
• Dell'uva Wines  Barossa Valley
• Dogrock Winery Pyrenees
• Linnaea Heathcote
• Inkwell McLaren Vale
• Matriarch and Rogue Clare Valley
• Nikola Estate Swan Valley
• Olive Farm Swan District
• Ricca Terra Riverland
• Shaw + Smith Adelaide Hills
• Stanton and Killeen Wines Rutherglen
• Whistling Eagle Wines Heathcote
• Zilzie Murray Darling

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