If you are not familiar with Portuguese wines, then you should definitely fill this gap. These are drinks that should appear on the dining table. If you like malbec, barbera or chardonnay, then it is likely that wines from Portugal will become fresh and, possibly, an inexpensive alternative.
Portuguese wines: reviews
You may be familiar with port wine and vinho verde, but have you ever heard of Castelane or Fernand Pirish? These are just two of the many varieties that grow only in Portugal and are not found anywhere else. Today we will list some grape varieties and wine-growing regions of the country, which, according to fans, are worthy of becoming the subject of further tasting studies.
What's on the sticker?
On the Portuguese bottle you can find the inscriptions "DOC" and "Vinho Regional". The country is divided into 14 regions whose wines fall into this category. Within these areas, various DOCs (Denominação de Origem Controlada) establish stricter laws and clearer geographical boundaries, which (as a rule, but not always) should result in the production of a higher quality drink.
Also on the label you can see the word quinta - the Portuguese call it a winery. Producers also tend to list grape varieties called castas. Many brands are made from a mixture of several different types, so this list is often necessary. The inscription Garrafeira, which marks the Portuguese wine, indicates that the winemaker invested in its aging in oak barrels - this is similar to Reserva in Spain.
Now that we know what can be read on the bottle, it's time to talk about what's inside it. The tour will start from the north and continue towards the south.
Minho
We start the journey in the same way that we start eating - with fresh, lively, white vinho verde wines. According to the tasters, they are distinguished by a low alcohol content, the aroma of lime and peach. Often they are slightly sparkling, which makes drinks particularly refreshing companions of seafood. Minho is a coastal region in the north-west of the country where Vigne Verde is made. The name "green wine" reflects its youth and liveliness. It is usually not aged in oak barrels and is intended for immediate use. Although it produces red and pink Portuguese wine, most of the products are white blends from Loureiro, Alvarino (identical to the Spanish Albariño), Trajadura, and sometimes other grapes. The Monsan y Melgaco subregion specializes in wines made exclusively from Alvarinho.
There are a number of winemakers producing delicious Portuguese green wines that might appear at your next party, but if you want to try something more sophisticated, you should find a bottle from Anselmu-Mendish or Afrush.
Douro
Steep terraced vineyards along the Douro River for many centuries produced a world-class product, mainly in the form of the famous dessert port. Over the past few decades, however, Portuguese dry red wine has emerged from the shadows. Since there were already vineyards and talented winemakers, the region immediately rose in rating: from 0 to 60 points. Douro can be red, white or pink and allows the use of a wide range of varieties.
Portuguese red wines are usually fortified and rich. They are often aged in oak barrels. The same red grapes used in port are used to make dry wine, Toriga Nacional, Toriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Rorish (known as Tempranillo in Spain), either in mixture or separately in bottles. Try them if you like products from regions such as Rioja, Ribera del Duero or Brunello di Montalcino. According to amateur reviews, one should look for manufacturers such as Niport, Quinta do Crastu and Quinta do Popa.
Only a small fraction of the wines that can be found are made from white varieties. These include Rabigatu, Goveyu, Viosinho and Malvasia Fina. Want to try the White Doru? Find the “Redom Branco” from “Niport”: rich, with notes of minerals, it will appeal to lovers of white Burgundy.
Dan
Dan takes advantage of the climate: it is not so hot here as in the center of the country, and not too close to the cold ocean breezes. The location of this region is ideal for achieving a balance of ripeness and acidity of grapes.
According to consumer reviews, red dan look like Burgundy. But they have more in common with the graceful nature of pinot noir. Wines made from varieties of Toriga Nacional, Alfroscheira and Tinta Rorish will usually be full of aromas of black cherry, ear gray and cocoa. It is worth looking for a bottle from Quinta do Roches.
White blends are made here, but if you are going to try only one, fans recommend a delicious white Portuguese wine made from Encruzado grapes. Fans of dry Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay will also enjoy the richness of this variety, which offers aromas of baked apple, lemon and pineapple. It is worth trying the products of the Quinta do Perdigan winery: you need to look for a bottle with a tit on the label.
Lijboa
The tiny region of Colares is located right on the Atlantic Ocean near the capital of Lisbon. This is one of the many DOCs in this region that make truly excellent wines from Ramisku. Vines wrap around sand dunes, protecting them from harsh ocean winds. The grapes that survived under these extreme conditions are able to produce drinks that retain fresh sourness, which balances the high tannin content. To this should be added a tart fruity aroma and the ability to age well, which allows them to be compared with the Italian Nebbiolo.
Among the regional wines, there are many more good brands, labeled Vinho Regional Lisboa. The whites, often obtained from Arintu and Fernand-pyres grapes, are usually fresh and fragrant, slightly similar to Gruner Veltliner and Albarinho.
Red wines are often blended on the basis of Torigi Nacional, Torigi Franca and Tinta Rorish and recall the beloved Sauvignon Cabernet with hints of blackcurrant, cloves and cedar. “Casa Santos Lima” offers a wide selection of incredibly valuable wines. It should be noted that this region used to be called Estramedura, and sometimes this name still pops up in liquor stores and on old bottles.
Setubal Peninsula
If you like Italian Barbara, you should try the Castelane-based drinks from the Setubal Peninsula southeast of Lisbon. This is the most common red grape variety in Portugal, which was once called Pericita after a very popular wine created by Jose Maria de Fonseca. The brand has become synonymous with grapes, but most likely the label will now say “Chestnut”.
Alentejo
Alentejo wines will appeal to lovers of malbec or cabernet sauvignon. This vast region is mainly known for its multi-kilometer plantings of cork trees. And although only 5% of the land is reserved for vineyards, the wines from here began to be very popular.
Even an amateur who begins to get acquainted with Portuguese red wines will recognize here some names: torigu nacional, aragonesh (tintu roorish), as well as alfrusheiro and trincadeira. Some white wines are also produced here, among which are: arintu, fernan pires and ropeiro. One common factor they have is the sun: more ripe grapes mean higher levels of alcohol and a richer taste. Red and white Portuguese wine, according to fans, is good at Erdade do Esporan, a major winemaker who is constantly improving the quality of production in Alentejo.
Port wine
Now that we have tasted Portuguese dry wine, it's time for dessert!
You need to turn back to Doura to enjoy the famous delicacy of this region - port. Red port wine is made from a mixture of grapes, usually including varieties of Toriga Nacional, Toriga Franca, Tinta Barroka and Tinta Rorish. It is sugary sweet like a blackberry with spices. And sweetness is not achieved by adding sugar: when the juice only partially turns into wine, the winemaker adds grape spirit. Yeast stops working, so fermentation stops before sugar turns into alcohol.
Red port is the simplest and least expensive. It matures only a few years before being bottled and put on shelves. Aged port is more expensive and is produced only in extremely productive years. He does not need to age long. This wine has been stored in the basement for several decades. Do not want to wait? Check out the Late Bottle Vintage or LBV. Before bottling, these fine wines are spent from four to six years in the winery, so they can be consumed immediately after purchase.
Light port is aged longer in wooden barrels before bottling, which gives it the taste of hazelnuts and vanilla. If you see a golden port with a designation of age, for example 20 years, then be aware that the label does not indicate the number of years of aging. Rather, it is an assessment of how old it seemed to taste when the manufacturer packed it in bottles. The port with an indication of a specific year is called Colheita - it was aged 7 years before bottling.
This Portuguese wine goes well with a caramel-dipped dessert sauce. Since this type of port has already been aged, it can be opened immediately after purchase or, if desired, left for a while. Served as an aperitif or in a highball with tonic. It is a little sweet, as fermentation is stopped by fastening, like red.
Madeira
In order to get to our final region, you need to order a plane. Madeira is an island located southwest of the shores of Morocco. The fine fortified wines produced here violate all storage rules. Manufacturers deliberately carry out the process of heating or "cooking". Sometimes this is done by long-term aging in the hot attic of the winery, although it is possible to more quickly achieve the result using artificial heating of the wine.
Why expose the drink to such torture? The answer should be sought in the past: Madeira wines, making long sea voyages, were stored in hot ship holds, where, under the influence of heat and oxygen, they turned into a drink with the taste of nuts and dried fruits. Today, winemakers do not send their barrels to the sea, but aging at elevated temperatures works no worse.
An additional advantage of this extreme process is that Madeira does not deteriorate like ordinary wine, even if it is opened and exposed to the air. So for those who don’t drink too often, it is the best choice: one bottle can be stored for years!
Most likely, you will see several different variants of Madeira. The most affordable is made from Tinta Negra, and this is a delicious start. Sometimes you can see bottles labeled "Rainwater" at a price of $ 10 to $ 15, this is a light and semi-dry Portuguese wine.
Want to find a special bottle of Madeira? Look for Sersial, Verdello, Boile, or Malmsi grapes on the label. Cersial is made in the driest style and can be surprisingly good as an aperitif before dinner. Verdello is a bit sweeter and known for its piercing acidity. Boile - semisweet and fragrant, with notes of orange and caramel. The sweetest is malmsey - a reddish port with notes of walnut and vanilla. All these kinds of Madeira are made by Rear Wine Co. This is in case anyone wants to rate each variety.