Rabigato is an obscure white grape variety found mostly at altitude in the Douro valley of Portugal where it's often blended with other rare, indigenous grapes including Arinto, Codega, Donzelinho branco, Gouveio, Malvasia Fina and Viosinho. Rabigato vines are well suited to the extreme heat of the Douro and make wines which retain their fresh acidity and have a characteristic sweet, orange blossom aroma. The grape is also used in the production of white port. Younger vintages of Rabigato wines work well with grilled fish dishes including seabass with mixed salad, while more mature wines (including oaked examples) are best served with chicken and rabbit in white sauces, or roasted salt cod (Bacalhau) with chickpeas.
