Geoffroy van Lede of vin du mois continues his journey in the southern European countries and discovers an unjustly neglected wine area.
Of course, we all know the Porto (first AOC created) and Madeira but behind these two leaders there are many appellations of great quality in the vineyards of the seventh top wine producer in the world.
Regions
The Portuguese vineyard can be divided into two large areas, each with its own climatic influence: continental and Mediterranean for the south and Atlantic for the north, with 15 AOCs. So you will find wines with a good variety and from a multitude of grapes. The best known grape varieties are Touriga National, Tinta Pinheira, Tinta Roriz and vinhao for red wines and Loureiro, the Trajadura and the Arinto Malvasia for white wines.
The wines
White wine: the Vinho Verde represents 20-30% of domestic wine volume. The vinho verde is the only white wine that truly crosses borders. Literally ‘green wine’, the vinho verde charms by its bright side and by the fact that it is slightly sparkling, going perfectly with local dishes.
The red wines of Portugal are mainly from the Dao, Douro and Alentejo regions. They are powerful, tannic with fairly high alcohol content. We can compare them with the wines of the Rhône and the south west of France.
Our selection
Vinho Verde ” Grande Escolha ” 2013 Quinta de Gomariz (€9.50)
The color of this wine is yellow gold, with aromas of exotic and yellow fruits on the nose.
In the first mouth, this wine is lively and fresh. You find the slight sparkling from wines of the region. Before its mineral final note, we detect notes of citrus and white flower. This goes perfectly pair with cod and vegetables.
Lybra (Syrah) 2013 Quinta do Monte d’ Oiro (€10.50)
This wine has a beautiful cherry red color. It is bright and has a nice depth. On the nose it is woody, peppery (green and black) with red fruit notes. Its palate is fruity, round and well-balanced. Pair it with a roast veal or Iberico pork.
Find these wines and our subscription concept on our site www.le-vin-du-mois.be or call 0498 586 545.
