Portugal's wines
We do not include wines in our Occasions Personal Chef service because we feel that your choice of wine is very much a matter of your own personal tastes: however, in an attempt to help those who may be unfamiliar with Portugal's wines we have listed below the major varieties and some suggestions. We have not listed those varieties normally used only in blends.
This is not intended to be a definitive list of grape varieties and we can honestly say that we have not personally tried them all!
There are 25 DOC areas in Portugal. Many of the indigenous grape varieties are not found elsewhere as Portugal escaped the worst ravages of the phylloxera virus which affected the rest of Europe. This means that you will discover wines that you may not have seen before and there are some wonderful wines here. You are on holiday so why not try something different? You can always revert to Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon on your return home!
White grapes
Alvarinho
Usually expensive. Mineral base / flowery / fruity with citrus & peach notes.
Antao Vaz
Acid retaining. Used for a crsip white when picked early or barrel fermented for a full bodied, rich wine.
Arinto - also known as Pederna & Cerceal
High acid / steely. Lemony / mineral. Usually ages well. Used in Bucelas.
Bical
Peach / floral. Used in Bairrada & Dao. Good young but age to give a toasty complexity.
Encruzado
Used in Dao. Light & fresh.
Floral / muscatty. Can be cloying unless balanced by acidity. Used in dry or off dry wines in Estramadura or Ribatejo.
Loureiro
In some of the best Vinho Verdes. Good acidity & floral / citrus / grapy / musky notes.
Perrum
Used in neutral Alentejo wines.
Rabigato
Used in Douro. Retains acidity.
Siria - also known as Alva, Codega or Roupeiro
Used as Roupeiro in the Alentejo for honeyed whites.
Viosinho
Douro. Can make high acidity fragrant / fresh whites.
Red grapes
Alfocheiro
Dao with rich tannin & balanced strawberry & acidity.
Alicante Bouschet
Intense treacle though dry flavours.
Aragonez - also known as Tinta Roriz
Firm tannins & responds well to oak aging. Red fruit / plum / strawberry / blackberry notes.
Baga
Astringent / lean & tannic in youth but with age & expertise can produce elegant rich wines with cherry & damson, ageing to malt, cedar, herbs & dry fruit.
Castelao - also known as Joao de Santarem & Periquita
Elegant raspberry fruit, evolving to cedar / cigar box. Similar to mature Cabernet.
Touriga Franca / Francesa
Velvet tannins & floral fragrance. Can age well.
Touriga Nacional - also known as Preto Mortgua
Complex mix of blackcurrants, raspberries, flowers, herbs & liquorice.
Trincadeira - also known as Mortágua/ Espadeiro
Balanced spicy reds in the Ribatejo & Alentejo. The best have balanced acidity, spicy, peppery, herbal with raspberry fruit.
It is now possible also to find single variety wines such as Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon as newer and/or younger producers come to market.
Recommendations
Some wines that have been recommended are (if you can find them):
Trás-as- montes region
White
Valle Pradinhos Riesling / Malvasia Fina / Gewurtztramminer)
Red
Valle Pradinhos (Cabernet Sauvignon / Touriga Nacional / Tinta Amarela)
Douro region
White
Quinta do Cotto Paco de Teixeró
Red
Quinta do Crasto Vinhas Velhas Reserva - dense, dark & intense
Quinta do Cotto Grande Eschola - rich & complex
Bairrada region
White
Quinta do Encontro Bical - crisp / apple & lemony acidity
Red
Goncalves Faria Barraida Reserva
Dao region
White
Duque de Viseu Brabco (Bical / Encruzado) - soft & honeyd crisp acidity
Red
Casa dos Gaios Reserva - ripe / treacle / red & black fruit, firm tannins & good length
Beira region
hite
Versus Síria Branco - steely, mineral, lean
Red
Rogenda Reserva (Touriga Nacional) - floral, herby ripe tannins)
Estremadura region
White
Cerejeiras Colheita Seleccionada Branco (Moscatel / Arinto) - lemony / hint of marmalade, good acidity)
Red
Quinta do Gradil Tinto - herby, firm tannins, dense black fruits
Ribatejo region
White
Fiuza Sauvignon or Chardonnay
Red
Fiuza Premium - complex with herby fruit / leather / tobacco
Terras do Sado region
White
JP Moscatel de Setubál sweet
BSE easy drinking / crisp blend
Red
Periquita Clássico
Quinta da Camarate - soft blend
Pegos Claros - intense, jam, figgy with firm tannins & good acidity
Alentejo region
White
Herdade dos Grous(Antao Vaz / Arinto / Roupeiro) - honeyed / mineral / hint of oak
Boa Memória Branco (Antao Vaz) - rich, buttery & oaky with good length & balancing acidity
Quinta da Carmo Branco (4 blend) - fresh, bright & easy
Red
Mouchao Alicante Bouchet / Trincadeira) - rich / dark / intense / terrific length & staying power treacle / mint / blackcurrant
Monte Velho - easy, juicy fruited
Esporáo Alicante Bouschet - dense, inky
Algarve region
White
Quinta do Barranco Longo Branco (Arinto / Chardonnay) - fresh, creamy, mineral
Alvor Arinto / Síria) - bright, refreshing
Vida Nova Verdelho Viognier 2006 - crisp acidity / exotic fruit
Red
Quinta do Barranco Longo Reserva - rich ripe fruit
Vida Nova Reserva (Syrah / Aragonez) - big, ripe, malty
Rosé
Quinta do Barranco Longo Rosé(Touriga Nacional / Aragonez) - herby, aromatic, off dry, well balanced acidity, full bodied
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