PORTUGEUSE WINE(1)

READING BETWEEN THE WINES:

He pours a radiant nectar, two score and ten years old, that blushes in the glass to find itself so famous, and fills the whole room with the fragrance of southern grapes.
— Charles Dickens on Port Wine, Bleak House

It probably seems obvious, but many wine drinkers have no idea that the best Port wines in the world come from — yes, you guessed it — Portugal.

Back in the late 1600s during the high-profile French and British dispute and import lockdown, the British needed to fill their need for fine wine somehow. So they went to Portugal who didn’t really have a wine that would make the sea voyage. Portugal vintners started adding Brandy to the wines, so they would survive the trip. And that’s where the Port legacy began.

Today Portugal is still número um for Port production, and in the last year or so, their vintners have fashioned some notable red table wines. Another marvelous fortified called Madeira also leaves its mark in many wine circles.

MAJOR PORTUGEUSE WINE REGIONS

Portugal’s wine regions are scattered about the western European country’s coast (or shall I say ports?) and inland. The major appellations in Portugal are Douro, Vinhos Verde, Dão, and Bairrada.

THE GRAPES

Some of the top grapes of the Portuguese kind are as follows:

PORTUGUESE REDS:

Touriga Nacional

The high-end grape for whipping up supreme Ports, the Touriga Nacional has low yields making it often times rather costly. Its rich-colored wines are intensely fruity and tannic with velvety textures and great talents for aging.

Tinta Roriz

Called the Tempranillo in Spain, the Tinta Roriz is a must-have in most Port blends. From light-bodied wines to full-bodied, highly tannic wines, this grape enriches many with its black fruit overtones.

Touriga Francesa

Another Port blender grape, the Touriga Francesca brings accents of floral and red fruit to many Port wines.

Tinta Barroca

Tinta Barroca adores a cooler climate and brings larger yields and a soft touch of fragrance and cherry and plum overtones to Port blends.

Tinta Cão

The Tinta Cão is the somewhat sleepy Port grape in terms of production, structure, and alcohol levels. It graces Port wine blends with its wildflower aromas and bilberry flavors.

Azal

Mostly used in wines from the Vinho Verde region, the red Azal Tinto offers red fruit effects while the white Azal Branco lends citrus effects.

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