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Insula VinusAzores

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TECH SHEET

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Vintage
2020
Country
PortugalPortugal
Region
Azores
Type
White
Producer
Insula Vinus
Winemaker
Paulo Machado
Grapes
VerdelhoArinto
Alcohol
12% vol.
Bottle
750 ml

Wine profile

Sparkling

DosageExtra Brut
Bubbles
Acidity
Body
Alcohol12% vol

Tap or hover a scale

Wine profile · Sparkling

Dosage Extra Brut

Level 1 of 5 — Dry and taut – almost no sugar

What it is

Dosage is the small amount of sugar (the liqueur d'expédition) added to a sparkling wine at the very end. It decides whether the wine is bone-dry or sweet.

Where you feel it

On the tip of the tongue and on the finish: the balance between sugar and acidity.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the wine's label (for example "Brut" or "Off-dry").

It comes from the category on the label, set in EU law in grams of sugar per litre: Brut Nature under 3 g/L, Extra Brut 0–6, Brut under 12, Extra Dry 12–17, Sec 17–32, Demi-Sec 32–50 and Doux over 50.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Brut Nature / Extra Brut This wine
  2. 2Brut
  3. 3Extra Dry / Sec
  4. 4Demi-Sec
  5. 5Doux

In practice, for this wine

Great with oysters, shellfish and sushi; a pure aperitif.

Wine profile · Sparkling

Bubbles

Level 2 of 5 — Fine and creamy – a soft mousse

In line with typical (2.1) · Typical: average of 50 sparkling wines at Vinogrande

What it is

The bubbles (the "mousse") are the sparkle of the wine: the size, fineness and persistence of the carbon dioxide bubbles.

Where you feel it

On the tongue and palate: fine bubbles feel creamy; large, lively ones prickle more.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: Vinogrande's tasting notes and wine description.

A traditional-method sparkling wine is at about 5–6 bar of pressure; a semi-sparkling one at 1–2.5 bar. Time on the lees usually makes the bubbles finer. Our scale rates the feel in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Very fine, delicate
  2. 2Fine and creamy This wine
  3. 3Lively and persistent
  4. 4Brisk
  5. 5Vigorous

In practice, for this wine

Good with shellfish and creamy starters.

Wine profile · Sparkling

Acidity

Level 4 of 5 — Lively and mouth-watering – like grapefruit

Below typical (4.5) · Typical: average of 138 sparkling wines at Vinogrande

What it is

Acidity is the wine's freshness: it gives energy, makes your mouth water and helps the wine age. Too little and it tastes flat; too much and it feels sharp.

Where you feel it

On the sides of your tongue, and in how much your mouth waters after you swallow. The more you salivate, the higher the acidity.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: Vinogrande's tasting notes and wine description.

Labs measure total acidity (grams of tartaric acid per litre; most wines sit between 4.5 and 8 g/L) and pH (usually 3.0 to 3.8; the lower, the more acidic). Our scale turns that into how it feels in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Low: soft, little freshness
  2. 2Medium−: gentle
  3. 3Medium: fresh and balanced
  4. 4Medium+: lively, mouth-watering This wine
  5. 5High: crisp, racy

In practice, for this wine

Cuts through fat and salt: oily fish, fried food, goat's cheese, lemony dishes. Serve well chilled.

Wine profile · Sparkling

Body

Level 2 of 5 — Light, with presence – like semi-skimmed milk

In line with typical (2.4) · Typical: average of 138 sparkling wines at Vinogrande

What it is

Body is the weight and texture of the wine in your mouth. It comes mainly from alcohol, extract (everything dissolved apart from water), glycerol and, in sweet wines, sugar.

Where you feel it

Across the whole tongue: how much the wine fills your mouth. Think skimmed milk, whole milk and cream.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the typical profile of this type of wine (WSET), as we have no specific data. Estimate

There is no single number for body. Labs measure dry extract (many wines are between 18 and 30 g/L) and alcohol, which WSET says has the biggest effect on body. Our scale rates the weight in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Light: fluid and delicate
  2. 2Medium−: light-ish This wine
  3. 3Medium: rounded
  4. 4Medium+: broad
  5. 5Full: dense and rich

In practice, for this wine

Good with fish, poultry and vegetarian food; it won't drown delicate flavours.

Wine profile · Sparkling

Alcohol 12% vol

Level 2 of 5 — Moderate – a gentle warmth

Below typical (2.5) · Typical: average of 135 sparkling wines at Vinogrande

What it is

Alcohol is made when yeast ferments the grape's sugar. It brings warmth, adds to the body and carries the aromas.

Where you feel it

As warmth in your throat and chest when you swallow, and a slight burn on the nose when it is high.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the alcohol stated on the label — On the label: 12% vol.

It is the one axis that is always measured: it comes from the % vol on the label. Still and sparkling wines: under 11% = 1, up to 12.4% = 2, up to 13.4% = 3, up to 14.4% = 4, 14.5% or more = 5. Fortified wines (Port, Madeira…) have their own scale: under 16.5% = 2, up to 18.4% = 3, up to 19.9% = 4, 20% or more = 5.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Low: under 11% vol
  2. 2Medium−: 11–12.4% vol This wine
  3. 3Medium: 12.5–13.4% vol
  4. 4Medium+: 13.5–14.4% vol
  5. 5High: 14.5% vol or more

In practice, for this wine

Light at the table: fish, small plates, summer food.

Critics & awards

Serve & enjoy

Temperature 8–10 °CFridge 3 h · or ice bucket with water 20 min
GlassWhite-wine glass

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Description

Insula Espumante Extra Bruto DOP Graciosa is a volcanic, oceanic sparkling wine made by Insula Vinus in the Azores, known for its creamy, fresh, saline profile.

The Wine AdvocateRP 93Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez

The 2020 Extra Bruto is a white sparkling wine from Graciosa Island, made with Arinto dos Açores and Verdelho, with marked volcanic and saline character, evident acidity and a fine bead. It was made with the help of a friend, sparkling-wine specialist José Carvalheira.

The base wine fermented in stainless steel, with 10% of the volume in used barrels, where it stayed on lees for seven months, before being bottled for the second fermentation. In bottle, it aged on lees for 40 months.

It has yeasty aromas and smoky notes on the nose, and a fresh, vibrant palate: dry, incisive, balanced and tasty, with a saline touch on the finish.

It has 12% alcohol, a pH of 3.33 and 7.7 grams of acidity, balanced by four grams of residual sugar.

Only 363 bottles were produced.
It was disgorged in March 2025.

What to serve with this wine

Dishes calculated from this wine’s profile, grapes and region.