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connected with the Iberian Peninsula and so
deeply embedded in its history and culture.
The process with port differs to that of wine,
involving adding a clear brandy to fermented
grape juice, allowing it to fortify and intensify
into that beautifully sweet and fabulous flavour.
Legend has it that this sweeter, fortified version
of wine was discovered during a 17th century
visit by English wine merchants at a monastery.
A thriving port trade with the English ensued.
Today, the rustic and old-fashioned winemaking
techniques are making way for a new wave
of budding winemakers with modern-day
methods and ideas for packaging and branding
and, as a result, the Portuguese wine market is
thriving.
With Portugal offering such a kaleidoscope of
climates and landscapes, the country's wine
produce significantly differs. Grapes in the
north of Portugal are fresher and 'greener',
the hot Mediterranean south is best for deep,
full-bodied reds, and its tropical islands bring
a completely different experience to its wines,
with grapes growing on craggy cliffs cooled
by sea air. Today, Portugal's leading wine-
producing region is the UNESCO-listed Douro
Valley.
Vineyards follow the bends of the river as it
meanders all the way to Portugal's second
largest city, the culinary destination of Porto.
The landscapes here are a sight to behold
by land or by river cruise, and those floating
through might spot grapes being picked from
the vines on steep valleys—hard work for the
harvesters, but the result is worth it. The Douro
is the oldest demarcated wine region in the
world and a great spot for Port wine. There
are plenty of opportunities to sample Douro
wine here, with visits to the estates, or quintas
—the most authentic, charming, family-run
vineyards just on the outskirts of the capital.
Minho is another wine hotspot known for its
vinho verde, a refreshing 'green wine' made
with a young grape. Minho is the largest
wine region in Portugal by size, and there are
many a romantic wine estate here, perfect for
spending a blissful afternoon in the southern
sun. Alentejo too is another option for
oenophiles, situated in the south of Portugal
boasting a hot Mediterranean climate making
it optimal for those easy-drinking reds.
Lisbon, too, offers rich pickings, with nine
sub-regions for wine, while the lush tropical
island of Madeira produces the second most
famous fortified wine from Portugal, coming
in a range of tastes, from sweet to dry.
Meanwhile, Barca d'Alva is a Portuguese
port town near Spain, in the shadows of
magnificent mountains and the gateway to
the Quinta do Seixo—an historic port wine-
making facility typical of the Douro region.
With the country's wine making history
stretching back over centuries, Portugal's
wine is finally getting the recognition it
deserves, and a place on the dining table.
TR A DITION A L TILES
Quinta da Lagoalva de Cima with
wine maker Diogo Campilho
