About Portuguese Wine

About Portuguese Wine
Portuguese wine is of course, most famously represented by Port, a fortified wine made from grapes in the Douro Valley in northern Portugal. There are several different types of Port, from the basic Ruby, meant for early consumption to vintage ports, which drink well in some instances upon their 30th or 40th birthday.

Other wines from Portugal include dry table reds made form grapes that can also be used for Port production. These include Touriga Nacional, Tinto Cao and Tinta Barroca; of these three, it is Tinta Nacional that produces the most powerful wines. These are big, ripe, modern red wines with moderate acidity.

The best white wine in Portugal is Albarino, an aromatic, dry white with plenty of floral perfumes as well as white spice notes. These are lovely wines for shellfish or merelt for consumption on a hot summer's day.

Vinho Verde - literally "green wine" - is a lighter, dry to off dry white that is refreshing and down to earth; it pairs well with simple salads and seafood.

Finally there is Madeira, a fortified wine from the eponymous island in the Atlantic. Examples of Madeira have been known to age for more than one hundred years and in a few examples, even two centuries

Top Picks for Portugal

Sandeman  20 Year Old Tawny Porto Douro
95 points
$64.99
A high quality and dangerous after dinner drink that would pair well with dessert and transition splendidly to an after dinner brown spirit.
Awards: 2022 Best Port 2022 Best Port 20 Year Tawny
95 points $64.99
Encostas Do Lima 2021 Rosé Vinho Verde DOC
94 points
$12
Best Buy
A nice crisp Rosé and a wonderful food pairing for any Mediterranean seafood and tomato cuisine.
94 points $12 Best Buy
Freixo 2017 Family Collection Estate Red Blend Alentejo
94 points
$85
Black and red fruit compote with no sweetness; a great bbq wine or a charming pairing with a mole sauce.
Awards: 2022 Best Portuguese Red
Encostas Do Lima 2021 Lima Schist Loureiro
93 points
$12
Best Buy
Wonderful fruit with balanced acidity and just a touch of savory herb will make this a lovely aperitif.
93 points $12 Best Buy
Quinta da Aveleda NV Praia White Blend Vinho Verde DOC
93 points
$13
Best Buy
Good balance of fruit and acidity with a light body; a very crushable picnic wine.
93 points $13 Best Buy
Sandeman NV Founders Reserve Ruby Porto Douro
93 points
$24.99
An excellent after dinner Port to pair with a mild Maduro cigar, flourless chocolate cake, or blue cheese.
Awards: 2022 Best Ruby Port
93 points $24.99
Freixo 2018 Reserva Red Blend Alentejo
93 points
$49
A perfect blend of Old World nuance and New World fruit and oak.
Opta 2018 Branco White Blend Dao
93 points
$12.99
Best Buy
A bright and balanced Portuguese white, it sings of crisp breezes and wild flower fields.
93 points $12.99 Best Buy
Casa Ferreirinha 2019 Esteva Douro
92 points
$10
Best Buy
A crowd pleasing table red that will pair well with steak and bbq.
92 points $10 Best Buy
Freixo 2019 Terroir Estate White Blend Alentejo
92 points
$29
A fun and delicious alternative for fans of white Bordeaux or an adventuresome Chardonnay drinker.