2025 Niepoort - Nat'Cool Bairrada Tinto Nat Cool - Drink Me

100% Baga, farmed organically and biodynamically from various old vineyards in the Cantanhede sibzone of Bairrada, on the coast in central Portugal between Lisbon and Porto. Traditionally known for producing big, dark, and tannic reds, Baga was reimagined by Dirk into something entirely new: fresh, vibrant, glou-glou-style wine. Hand harvested, fermented with native yeasts and carbonic maceration, aged briefly in steel and bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulphur. 12.9% alcohol. 

Yet another cool wine from Dirk and Daniel Niepoort! This light bodied wine gives off a bit of reduction when you first open it, but it quickly blows off and shows a fun nose and palate of crunchy pomegranate, tart cherry, dried herbs, flowers and just a hint of funk. Brisk juicy acidity and just a hint of fine tannin on the finish. Serve with a slight chill. 

There is a revolution happening in the Douro, and Dirk Niepoort is leading the troops. For centuries this part of Portugal has been known only for its port, but today, many of these Portuguese winemakers are beginning to make red and white table wines with the same grapes that have traditionally only been used for ports.

Dirk was born in 1964 to a traditional Port family that has been in business since 1842. The first wine Dirk participated in making was the Niepoort Vintage Porto of 1987. At the time, the family owned no vineyards, and had to source all its wine and grapes from other growers. Since then, he took over the management of the winery and set to purchasing top, old-vine, steep vineyards to secure top quality grapes. He also started a project of making dry wines, from these prized, generally north-facing vineyards. Today, the Niepoort family owns 80 hectares of vines in the Douro, all farmed organically, incorporating some biodynamic principles as well.