If you’re looking for a truly world-class wine region that boasts some of the most varied grapes and growing to be found anywhere, then you’d be hard pushed to find a better location than Portugal.
This Mediterranean hotspot is one of Lockett Bros’ favourite wine-producing countries. It’s one of those places that seems to produce world-class wine after world-class wine and it manages to do it quietly and without much fuss.
Portuguese vineyards are as varied and exciting as you could ever hope to find and this is down in part to the grape varietals and contrasting soils that do so much for the wines, from the Madeira Islands to the Azores and just about everywhere in between.
Terroir diversity is something that so many wine-producing countries brag about but Portugal is the real deal. Portuguese wines are unique and exciting.
The whole country is crisscrossed by fantastic vineyards. Indeed, you could say it has a glut of fine producers and for the wine tourist, you’d have to spend months there to fully explore them.
There are well over a dozen quality wine producing regions in Portugal from the Algarve in the south to Lisboa and Tejo in the west and central and Vinho Verde in the north of the country.
Choosing where to start is the fun part but you can be assured that no matter where you plump for in Portugal, you’re guaranteed to find good wine.
One of the most endearing things about Portuguese wine is the astonishing grape varietals that the country can show off.
As a wine-producing nation, it has always been that little bit more daring than some of its contemporaries. Small, privately-owned vineyards consistently produce stunningly good wines using varietals that many of us would never have heard of. Portugal, quite simply, likes to make wine its own way and, boy, does it do it well!
It’s difficult to choose a particular style that typifies Portuguese wine because they seem to excel in them all, from light and crisp whites to big, hearty reds.
Let’s not forget the incredible vintage ports that come from those shores and the show-stopping, deliciously-sweet Moscatel varieties from the Douro and Setúbal regions.
Portuguese wine can sometimes be overlooked and that’s perhaps understandable given the vast array of quality Old World options out there. But trust us when we say that there’s an astonishing abundance of Portuguese wines that offer a degree of finesse that other countries would struggle to match.
One to try – Herdade Sao Miguel Tinto
Okay, so we’ve waxed lyrical about the quality of Portuguese wines and now it’s time to prove just how good they are.
This particular vintage made it into our wine of the week column back in October and we’re still deeply in love with it.
It showcases a masterful blend of Aragonez, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet and Cabernet Sauvignon giving sumptuous black fruit and just the most subtle hint of oak.
Try it and you’ll be smitten and we’ll probably tell you we told you so. Enjoy!
