Why Portugal...
Many people don’t know where Portugal is, let a lone know that the country makes wine. Some might even be familiar with Port, a fortified dessert wine (more on this later), but they aren’t familiar with the other bold and complex table wines coming out of the same region. Although Portugal has been making wine for centuries, it wasn’t until the 1980s that the quality of these wines started to reach an internationally recognizable level. Winemakers started to fine tune their techniques and making the kind of wines that the country is capable of making.
Portugal has had a bit of a branding problem, but what some consider a challenge, we actually think is an asset. There are over 250 grape varietals native to the country that you can’t really find anywhere else in the world, and that’s a good thing! The likes of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay weren’t really found in these lands until recently, but the plantings of these well known varietals has increased over the years and are making their way into the many blended wines you’re bound to see on the shelves.
But, just because some of these native grapes aren’t recognizable, doesn’t mean they aren’t good. To give you an idea of what you’re tasting when you pick up a bottle of Portuguese wine, I wanted to give you a flavor and style comparison for guidance:
Their Cabernet Sauvignon is Our Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional is perhaps the premiere red grape in all of Portugal, and one of the primary varietals used in Port wine. It’s big, bold, with deep, dark and lusty notes of blackcurrant, raspberry and plum. It ages really well and it comes from The Douro Valley, one of the most spectacular wine regions in the world.
Their Merlot is Our Touriga Franca
Although Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca are similar in name, they’re actually quite a bit different. Touriga Franca has a bit more acidity and a lighter floral and blackberry fruit aroma, much like Merlot.
Their Chardonnay is Our Encuzado
If you like the rich and buttery potential of a Chardonnay, then the Encruzado and Antão Vaz varietals might be for you. Much like Chardonnay, these varietals are capable of showcasing a range of qualities from zesty to baked apple depending on how much oak aging is used.
Their Syrah is Our Jaen
Jaen, which is better known as Mencia in Spain, is a varietal that is very similar to Syrah in that it has a lot of up front flavor. Styles can range from bold and sweet, much like Australian Shiraz, to earthy like the Syrahs coming out of Northern Rhône.
Their Pinot Noir is Our Baga
Once misunderstood and underappreciated, Baga is making an impact in the Portuguese wine market. Baga has a potential to produce rich and dense wines with cherry fruit flavors when bottled that can grow in complexity as it ages. Yet, it has also shown itself to be a lot like Pinot Noir in that it can produce light and delicate red wines. Also like Pinot Noir, Baga is used as a base for sparkling wine.
Their Pinot Gris is Our Alvarinho
The same varietal as Spain’s Alvariño (and pronounced the same, too), Alvarinho is a lot like Pinot Gris in that it can produce a refreshingly acidic white wine with fruit characteristics of peach, lemon, and flowers. So far, it is one of the first grapes to make it to the bottle as a single varietal in the Vinho Verde region where, for years, we’ve only seen blended wines.
As you can see, these varietals might sound odd, but are actually a lot like the varietals we’re used to seeing at our happy hour. Chances are that if you pick up a bottle of Portuguese wine, not only will you be able to find characteristics that speak to you and that you recognize, you might actually find something new that you like.
Different is good. Portuguese wines, while a little bit different, are great. I encourage you to try some.
City of Porto - The Douro River