Palhete (like you’re whispering a secret in a wine bar: pahl-YET) is Portugal’s playful, light-red answer to rosé, born when red and white grapes ferment together. These wines live at the edge of clarity and contradiction, but very clearly in line with how wines were made “back then”: red-tinted, light, almost ready for underage consumption. Sick, I know. What I want to say is they’re fresh, approachable, and perfect summer sippers, ideal for drinking cool, fast and without a second thought.

Palhete wines are profoundly drinkable. They sidestep the heaviness of reds and the flabbiness of whites by walking a tightrope: bright fruit with soft tannin, a kiss of earth, and just enough volatility for presence without hangover regrets. Welcome to Portuguese minimalism, done light, done right.

So let’s go!

João Pato – Nerd Duck (≈12% ABV) | Bairrada

A mix of: Maria Gomes and Baga

This fizzy, pale-red charmer is like a pool party in a glass—light, cheeky, and unapologetically fun. Made in Bairrada with white and red grapes co-fermented, it pops with cherry-and-plum notes, a hint of pine freshness, and enough acidity to make it dangerously crushable by the beach. This is the opposite of what producers normally do with Palhete— the extravagant Maria Pato (there’s no actual “João” in place) blends 95% white Maria Gomes and 5% of red Baga and adds several months of French barrel ageing! Biodynamic and minimal in intervention, it’s the kind of wine you take everywhere—or at least bring home a case.

Casa de Mouraz | Palhete (≈12% ABV) | Dão

A mix of: Jaen, Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, Rufete, Baga, Trincadeira, Camarate, Bical and Fernão Pires

Straight out of Dão’s misty hills, this blend of red and white grapes from old terraces is your ideal summer sidekick. The label screams 7 red and 2 white varieties inside. Think raspberries and wild strawberries with a clean, sassy acidity—but no oak messing with your vibe. Pure, polished, playful. Perfect for seafood lunches, rooftop dinners, or pretending you know what gastronomy means. Trust: you’ll want another. You gonna thank Antonio, Sara and the team later.

António Madeira | Ainda Palhete (≈12% ABV) | Dão

A mix of: a mystery (meaning, “surprise”)

Antonio build himself a name in Dão—with peaking wine complexity and drinkability. Counterintuitively rich but still refreshing, this granite-soil beauty delivers an earthy grip with gentle spice and a touch of red fruit brightness. Richer than most Palhetes yet never heavy, it’s your passport from poolside to pasta night without skipping a beat. Antonio puts it through 18 months in stainless steel vats. This one ages well—so buy now, then open later or sooner, your call. Pahlete-ecstatic!

Monte da Casteleja | Palhete (≈13% ABV) | Algarve

A mix of: Bastardo, Alfrocheiro, Souzão, maybe more

Algarve sun meets ocean breeze and a Frenchman Guillaume Leroux in this granite-fired blend of red grapes with red-fruit shine. Herbal floral aromas, lightly tannic structure, and a sea-breeze finish that makes you want to chase it with grilled sardines. It’s organic, unapologetic, and forged for warm evenings. Adds spice to any gathering and zero weight to carry. Foot-trodden and aged for half-year in 500L old barrels.

Aphros | Phaunus Amphora Palhete (≈11.5% ABV) | Vinho Verde

A mix of: Loureiro, Vinhão

Clay amphorae, beeswax, and wild fermentation not far from the sea make this the most mystic bottle on the list. Pale, dusty-cranberry color, herbal and saline perfume, and a delicate smokiness that whispers rather than shouts. It’s lightly tannic, juicy, edgy, and utterly compelling. This is not your grandma’s rosé—it’s amphora whispered poetry that begs to be cellared or chilled fast. Hats off to Miguel Viseu and Vasco Croft.

Bonus: Ciclo Vinhos | Palhete (≈12% ABV) | Alentejo

A mix of: Aragonêz, Castelão, Trincadeira, Arinto, Fernão Pires, Alicante Branco, Tamarez

If you can find it—buy it. This—naturally—underground darling brings red and white grapes together in spontaneous fermentation, skin-contact flourish, and no oak. Crisp, lightly tannic, tart, and begging to be consumed in the sunshine or on a picnic. Bonus: you’ll look like a wine-world insider. Armed with an Instagram, salute Joachim Roque, Ana Paulino and Miguel Nunes.

Portuguese Palhetes walk the razor’s edge between refreshing and complex, each bottle promising party-ready drinkability with backbone. They go from midday pool to dusk BBQ seamlessly. They’re boutique but friendly, minimal but memorable, and most importantly—they taste like Portugal in a glass.

Stock ‘em up, chill ‘em down, let the summer be endless.