Our Wine of the Month #2 for July 2026 is a seriously good wine for the price, and a great partner for the summer grill! Maçanito's "MAC" brings you an easier-drinking take on the bold, dark-fruited reds that Portugal's Douro Valley is famous for.
Brother-and-sister-run Maçanita is a low-intervention, sustainable winery: the vineyards are farmed organically and without irrigation, and they let the native yeast ferment the juice, with a minimum of sulfites added to protect the wine's deliciously clean and fresh character. The "MAC" Douro Tinto is free of oak in order to show off the naturally explosive character of the carefully selected grapes that go into it.
With a base of the noble Touriga Nacional variety, it's partnered with tangy, dark-juiced Sousao and other local varieties sourced from an 80-year-old, mixed-planting vineyard. Medium-bodied, with warmth and juiciness, it washes across the palate with a staining of floral-tinged, brambly blackberries and plum, dark chocolate, and a savory herbal edge. The finish impresses with a delicious and refreshing balance of cocoa-dusted fruit and wild herbs, all grounded by a tug of tea-like tannins. This is best at a cool 60F, shared with friends, and partnered with cured meats, semi-soft cheeses, or meats and veggies from the grill! 14.5% abv.
WINE ADVOCATE 91 POINTS - "The 2023 Tinto was produced with a blend of 50% Touriga Nacional, 25% Sousão and 25% field blend known as Vinhas Velhas... It's primary, juicy and ripe, clean and pleasant, with notes of wild berries, herbs and flowers, and it has a medium-bodied palate with almost unnoticeable tannins..."
Brother-and-sister-run Maçanita is a low-intervention, sustainable winery: the vineyards are farmed organically and without irrigation, and they let the native yeast ferment the juice, with a minimum of sulfites added to protect the wine's deliciously clean and fresh character. The "MAC" Douro Tinto is free of oak in order to show off the naturally explosive character of the carefully selected grapes that go into it.
With a base of the noble Touriga Nacional variety, it's partnered with tangy, dark-juiced Sousao and other local varieties sourced from an 80-year-old, mixed-planting vineyard. Medium-bodied, with warmth and juiciness, it washes across the palate with a staining of floral-tinged, brambly blackberries and plum, dark chocolate, and a savory herbal edge. The finish impresses with a delicious and refreshing balance of cocoa-dusted fruit and wild herbs, all grounded by a tug of tea-like tannins. This is best at a cool 60F, shared with friends, and partnered with cured meats, semi-soft cheeses, or meats and veggies from the grill! 14.5% abv.
WINE ADVOCATE 91 POINTS - "The 2023 Tinto was produced with a blend of 50% Touriga Nacional, 25% Sousão and 25% field blend known as Vinhas Velhas... It's primary, juicy and ripe, clean and pleasant, with notes of wild berries, herbs and flowers, and it has a medium-bodied palate with almost unnoticeable tannins..."
