About White Wines from Portugal

About White Wines from Portugal
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

White Wines

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
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
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.
Freixo 2019 Reserva White Blend Alentejo
92 points
$36
A round and refreshing tropical white wine with waves of rich fruit riding an undercurrent of spice and minerality.
Awards: 2022 Best Portuguese White
Raw Bar 2021  Vinho Verde
91 points
$9
Best Buy
An energetic crushable wine for all things BYO or sun related.
91 points $9 Best Buy
Jm Fonseca Twin Vines 2020  Vinho Verde DOC
89 points
$9
Best Buy
A refreshing sipper for light meals and pleasant conversation.
89 points $9 Best Buy
Raw Bar 2020  Vinho Verde
89 points
$9
Best Buy
A bright and tropical, fruit-forward Vinho Verde that will shine al fresco.
89 points $9 Best Buy
Caiu A Noite 2020  Loureiro
89 points
$10
Best Buy
A joyous Vinho Verde with great citrusy pop and a mineral-driven finish.
89 points $10 Best Buy
Raw Bar 2022  Vinho Verde
88 points
$9
Best Buy
A lovely bouquet of tropical fruits on the nose and palate make this a go to summer sipper.
88 points $9 Best Buy