Portuguese wine is having a moment, as a huge infusion of new-generation talent and investment pours into historic regions like the Douro, Vinho Verde, and others.
The latest edition of SommSelect’s monthly “Explore 4” subscription is dedicated to Portugal’s modern wine renaissance, so here’s a great chance to see for yourself: Grab one of our “New Portugal” 4-packs for just $135 (shipping included)! Check out the lineup below:
WINE 1
The Region: Monção e Melgaço (Vinho Verde)
The Wine: Quinta de Soalheiro, Alvarinho 2020
Headquartered in Melgaço, the northernmost municipality in Portugal, Soalheiro was founded by João António Cerdeira in the mid-1970s, with the first branded wines released in 1982—making them one of the first to bottle under the “Monção e Melgaço” designation. They are Alvarinho specialists and produce a wide array of organically farmed still and sparkling whites from the variety.
WINE 2:
The Region: Dão
The Wine: Pedra Cancela, Dão Encruzado “Vinha da Fidalga” 2019
Is Encruzado the greatest white wine grape you’ve never heard of? There are quite a few experts who think so. In our tastings at SommSelect, we’ve been mightily impressed with this specialty of the Dão region, which, in the right hands, exhibits the kind of density and mineral depth found in great Chardonnays from Burgundy.
WINE 3:
The Region: Bairrada
The Wine: Campolargo, Baga 2016
When the topic is the Baga grape from Bairrada, the conversation inevitably turns at some point to another famous red that starts with a “B”: Italy’s iconic Barolo. Baga resembles Barolo’s Nebbiolo grape in many ways: Both varieties are described as “difficult” in that they are high in tannin and late to ripen, meaning they require the best-exposed sites and ideal conditions to reach full maturity. But when they’re “on,” Bairrada’s reds are prhaps the most complex, ageworthy reds in Portugal.
WINE 4:
The Region: Douro Valley
The Wine: Quinta de Ventozelo, Douro Reserva Tinto 2017
Sweet, fortified Port wines are still a staple, but the bottles generating buzz right now in the Douro Valley are the “table wines,” crafted from the same grapes used in Port. As one of the world’s oldest wine appellations and a UNESCO Heritage Site, the Douro is Portugal’s best-known terroir: Steep, terraced vineyards, following the path of the Douro River, are rooted in dusty schist soils. It is an arid, hot climate, producing reds of serious depth.
