ON THE GRAPEVINE

SAM WYLIE-HARRIS ON... UP AND COMING PORTUGUESE WINES

PORT put Portugal on the drinks map but the country’s wines are on the up – and offer amazing value at all price points.

And The Wine Society has just won the Specialist Merchant for Portugal award for the third consecutive year at the International Wine Challenge (IWC).

The Society’s Vinho Verde 2018 (£6.75), with its zesty, lemon-lime flavours, and Carlos Lucas Ribeiro Santo Dao 2017 (£7.95) with its plush, herb scented cherry fruit come highly recommended.

And while the country is best known for port of course, thanks to a huge investment in vineyards and wineries and a rise in tourism away from the Algarve, people are discovering how fabulous the wines are too.

As Sophia Bergqvist, Quinta de la Rosa owner, points out: “Some of the best quality wine regions (especially the Douro) have only been making wine from port grapes in a commercial way since the early-1990s. So we’ve had less than 30 vintages!

“La Rosa was one of the first to start making wines in the Douro in 1990/91.”.

Try her Quinta de la Rosa, Estate Tinto 2017, Douro (£17.95, Berry Bros & Rudd), which offers flourishes of rich aromas and an impressive forest floor of ripe black fruit framed by refined tannins.

And with value and quality driving its growth, Jehan Sacaze, buyer at Laithwaite’s, thinks Portugal has plenty more to give.

“Portuguese wines have become very popular, with Aluado Alicante Bouschet 2017, Vinho Regional de Lisboa (£9.99, Laithwaite’s) often elected best wine in show within our consumer events. A lot of investment has been put into wineries in recent years, leading to great quality wines across vintages,” says Jehan.

Elsewhere, Sainsbury’s

Taste the Difference Portuguese Alvarinho 2018

(£7.50, Sainsbury’s) is another great summer white; deliciously refreshing with floral aromas and citrusy notes to pair beautifully with grilled fish.

While robust reds such as Quinta de Fafide Estate Reserva, Douro 2016

(£10, Marks & Spencer stores) is made with traditional port grape varieties and an excellent match for roasted red meats or cheese, suggests Sue Daniels, winemaker, Marks & Spencer.