It’s worth the effort to seek out diverse — and underrated — Portuguese wines

Great quality and value make Portuguese wines worth seeking out.

Portuguese wines are too often misunderstood. This generally stems from a lack of awareness and unfamiliarity with the incredible variety of native grapes (more than 250) used to make wine across this relatively

small but regionally diverse country.

The more I visit this food/ wine-loving nation and the more I taste the wines, it confirms for me not just the quality being produced but the incredible value with respect to their price quality ratio.

A lack of familiarity should not be a barrier to seeking out these delicious wines.

The bounty includes fresh, crisp and minerally whites produced from the Loureiro, Alvarinho and Arinto grapes in the northwest region of Vinho Verde; full-flavoured reds made from Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz or Touriga Franca in the Douro Valley; interesting, complex and fresh wines using Alfrocheiro and Encruzado grapes in the Dao — perhaps the most underrated region in the country; fascinating reds composed of the Baga grape in Bairrada; or the stunning and versatile fortified wines produced on the island of Madeira.

Make the effort to seek out and discover the delicious diversity of wines that Portugal offers. Here are a few suggestions to help start your journey:

Luis Pato Baga-Touriga Nacional 2011, Beira Atlantica ($20) CSPC: 725369

Lively and medium-bodied with concentrated plum and berry flavours, mineral and leather notes, grippy tannins and fresh on the juicy finish. A great match with lamb but fresh enough to pair with seafood stew. Luis Pato is commonly considered to be the country’s strongest advocate for the Baga grape which, in addition to making delicious red wines, is used to produce tasty red sparkling wines with a high cool factor.

Aveleda Follies Alvarinho 2013, Vinho Verde ($24) CSPC: 734585

Juicy and floral with a rich mouth feel and fresh flavours of peach, apple, citrus, apricot and spice. Well-structured with a minerally finish. Ideal with shellfish and seafood, but also pork and poultry. The wines of Vinho Verde are often misunderstood. It would be a mistake to characterize their freshness, accessibility and drinkability as simplistic.

Quinta do Penedo 2010, Dao ($28) CSPC: 742514

Distinctively elegant and full-flavoured blend of Touriga Nacional and Alfrocheiro, with plenty of bright acidity to back it all up. Red plum, mineral, currant and raspberry are accented by spice and licorice. Some of the most interesting and best-value wines in the world are coming from the Dao.