Add Portugal to your list of wine adventures this year

BY KAITLYN DUKE

Portugal has long been one of Western Europe’s most underrated countries, but now the secret is out. It has just as much to offer tourists as neighboring France and Spain but at a fraction of the price. Visitors are delighted by stunning architecture, world heritage sites, and endless outdoor activities ranging from mild to wild. The biggest surprise, perhaps, is the variety and quality of Portuguese wine with price tags that seem too good to be true.

Beyond the world-renowned fortified wines of Port and Madeira, Portugal produces a wide range of dry red and white wines (tinto and branco, respectively) in a variety of styles. Organic practices have been the norm for centuries. Most of its 250+ indigenous grape varieties don’t grow anywhere else in the world. They may be unrecognizable on a wine label, but that is part of what makes exploring them exciting. Most Portuguese wines are blends, so the region will indicate the style more so than the grape varieties.

The Douro Valley in the north is known for Port, a fortified sweet wine made from a blend of up to 30 native grape varieties, including Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão, and Touriga Franca. Those same grapes also produce dry red wines that are powerful and age worthy. While many bottles cost under $15, serious collectors can find world class bottles for around $50. The bold, tannic wines of the Douro Valley beautifully complement a juicy Ribeye, and will delight Napa and Bordeaux enthusiasts.

West of the Douro Valley is Minho, which borders the Atlantic Ocean. Minho produces light-bodied white and rosé (rosado) wines called Vinho Verde. Made from a blend of native grapes, Vinho Verde wines are crisp, fruity, zesty, and often have a slight spritz. These patio pounders are perfect for boat days, beach days, or hanging by the pool. Keep an eye out for single-varietal wines, like Loureiro and Alvarinho (aka Albariño), which pair perfectly with salads and seafood appetizers. Sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio lovers should look for these wines.

Further south is Alentejo, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Spanish border. This vast region is sparsely populated, but it plays a crucial role in agriculture. In fact, Alentejo is home to most of the world’s cork forests and produces more than half of the world’s cork supply.

Numerous progressive wineries have focused on modernizing winemaking techniques over the last decade or so. White wines range in style from medium-bodied and refreshing to full-bodied and rich. Reds are medium- to full-bodied with generous fruit flavors and are usually blends, although single-varietal wines like Aragonez and Alicante Bouschet are also produced. Those who enjoy the fruity, spicy reds and aromatic, textured whites of France’s Rhône Valley will love exploring the wines of Alentejo.

Suggestions from Portugal: Castello d’Alba Douro Tinto ($13); Van Zellers Douro Tinto ($30); Costa do Sol Vinho Verde ($10); Foral Vinho Verde Alvarinho ($19); Herdade do Rocim Alentejo Alicante Bouschet ($25).

Kaitlyn Duke is a certified sommelier and a sales consultant for XXI Wine & Spirits.