Food & Drink in the Algarve, Portugal

what to drink during your stay in the Algarve

The Wines of Portugal - news of tastings and where to buy in the UK

Bom Dia

Thanks to the continued support of ICEP & ViniPortugal, the two generic bodies responsible for the promotion of Portuguese wines in overseas markets, we have recently presented several tutored tastings to consumer & business groups around the U.K.  Hopefully you will enjoy the opportunity of reading about the tastings; the wines, winemakers and regions.

Firstly though for the groups we visited, it was in reality for many delegates a first to sit and taste, or even discover, the quality and diversity available from Portugal.  Indeed a couple of sessions were even entitled `The Diverse Wines of Portugal'.

We also need to say that of all the many generic and government bodies that we currently represent, or have represented in the past, Portugal quite simply is way ahead, being extremely forward thinking and realising the great importance that actually having consumers taste the wines offers.  Other countries take note!

So, it has been a bit of a road show for us of late as the team has taken the wines to groups in Wiltshire, Co. Durham & Cumbria.  This is so important as wine buyers around the country should be given the opportunity to learn more about Portugal and its wines.  Therefore, please do not forget that if you would like us to bring the wines to your company, association or group all you have to do in the first instance is to email us at wineeducators@aol.com

I thought I would take you through the ranges personally so that hopefully it will tempt you to at least try some of the wines even if you are unable to host a tasting yourselves.

In the delightful surroundings of Capability Brown's Stourhead National Trust property, members were treated to a rare opportunity to taste a range of Port wines. It makes for a fascinating tasting, being able to compare the various styles and types of Ports (oh, and we threw in a Madeira too!).

That great Portuguese favourite, White Port or Porto Branco, was represented by Taylor's Chip Dry (Waitrose - £9.99). Served chilled, of course, this wine can also be served with tonic water - a Portonic!  From the great Symington dynasty came a straight example of Ruby Port (Waitrose - £5.99) as the `starter' for a flight of Red Ports.  This was followed by Crusted from Dow's (Waitrose - £13.99), Late Bottled Vintage 2000 from the great Quinta do Noval (Oddbins & Tesco - £11.99) and, thanks to my great friends at the house of the Don - Sandeman, their Vau Vintage 2000 (www.everywine.com - £20).  Respectively, the Crusted was bottled in 2001 and represents another alternative to full vintage, while the LBV of course matures longer in wood, 4 to 6 years, and then is bottled for your immediate enjoyment and the Vau is an example of a single quinta vintage port, having of course the statutory 2 years in wood and then allowing itself to age and mature in the bottle.  In a change of style, we then presented two examples of the great British favourite, Tawny Port with a 10 year old from the Bergqvist family's Quinta de la Rosa (Berry Bros & Rudd- £20) compared with the 20 year old from Sandeman (www.everywine.com - £29+). All these wines showed just what the Douro does best and then just by way of contrast, we slipped in the Madeira - Blandy's Alvada 5 year old Rich Madeira (Waitrose - £9.99)

Next on our hit list was the former steel & mining town of Consett in Co. Durham where we were asked to show `The Diversity of Portugal' to a group in a local restaurant venue.

The reception wine was a good example of Portuguese Vinho Espumante, Sao Domingos Espumante Meio-Seco (Portugalia Wines) with a lovely richness to the palate.  Next to represent the far north & Vinho Verde was the Muros Antigos Alvarinho 2004; Monçao (Atlantico).  Mentioned before I know, but again a great combination of the premium VV variety with the premium VV sub-region.  To perhaps contrast the very traditional with the more modern the other white wine was `The Cork Grove' Fernao Pires 2003 (Oakley Wine Agencies) from the Ribatejano region.

Because we just love showing Rosé wines, we included this time the Calços do Tanha Rosé 2005 (Atlantico) from the Douro Valley.  The tasters were fascinated that this lovely, fresh wine was actually produced from the very same grapes as Port!

The two reds were old favourites; Segada Trincadeira/Castelao 2004; Ribatejano & Bela Fonte Jaen 2000; Beiras (both D&F Wine Shippers) but contrasting examples of native grapes respectively from the south & north of Portugal.  On the one hand, Segada, light & fruity - just perfect for Nando's Chicken Piri-Piri; on the other, Jaen, full-bodied, mature and with supple, smooth tannins

In a big leap of style the two closing wines were Moscatel de Setubal `Thasos', Caves Velhas 2003 (Portugalia Wines) and Noval 10 year old Tawny Port (Waitrose £15.59).  The Moscatel was a glass of raisined nectar but with lovely acidity and complexity and the Noval from the great quinta of that name dating back to 1715, long, smooth and very satisfying - very moorish indeed!

A few days later we had crossed the country to Cumbria, inevitably like most of the country at that time very wet!  Here we treated the tasters to another great selection of quality Portuguese wines. Just some of the many highlights for you here as space is running out.

Borges Fita Azul Reserva Seco - a Metodo Classico Sparkling wine with great depth and richness; showing a little autolysis like good Champagnes, this was much enjoyed.  Borges are a lovely house producing wines as diverse as this and from Port to Vinho Verde!   A couple of `new' reds for us to show; that's new to us and the group.  Firstly Periquita 2004, Terras do Sado (Waitrose £4.99) - lots of fruit and flavour and just great value and then DFJ Touriga Nacional & Touriga Franca 2004, Estremadura (Tesco £5.99) but of course a blend of two of the Port grapes so a gutsy, structured wine with lots of flavour. And also shown to represent the island of Madeira and its story, Henriques & Henriques 15 yr old Malmsey (Waitrose £17.25/50cl.)

All being well next month we'll resume our regional tour and I am sure that we'll have nore tasting news for you too. Look forward to hearing from you.

Until then

Martin
Wine Educators International

www.wine-educators.com

A reminder of forthcoming events featuring Portugal:

Wednesday 18^th July - Taste Portuguese wines with Food at our Residential Wine & Food Matching Course at Dillington House, Ilminster, Somerset.

If you would like to know more about Portuguese Food and Drink, why don't you dip into our Restaurants in the Algarve section and our series of articles on Portuguese Wines and Ports.  We also feature some Traditional Portuguese Recipes and a glossary of useful Portuguese food & drink words and phrases

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