Portugal and VINHO VERDE

It is a bit of a tradition at IWCoK that we dedicate August to Portuguese wines. Indeed the first year was just coincidence, but since than we know that Vinho Verde is the ultimate “cheap date” for hot weather and outdoor eating any day of the week. The light wine with just a few bubbles on the tongue never disappoints and wont dent your wallet (indeed a good thing if you just spent all your money on holiday).

But what I didn’t know until this year (I admit, I am ashamed…) is that Vinho Verde is not a type of wine, but a region in the North of Portugal. Shocker – not every Vinho Verde is fizzy and costs 150 Kc !

And that is where this journey begins. This month we have 5 very different Vinho Verde’s from the “Pick nick gulper” to the very sophisticated Alvarinho and everything in between. Apart from the region, the one red thread in these wines comes from the climate of the area. The region is known for its cool wet climate, making ripening difficult and producing wines extremely fresh and normally with a high acidity. These are wines for fish, white meat and salty foods – do not look any further.

And the reds ? We start with 2 wines from the region most known for producing port, the Douro. These are dark, powerful reds with a very respectable alcohol content. These are full of the grape Touriga Nacional, which many consider to be Portugal’s finest. Not beginner wines ;-). We also have wines from the Alentejo and Lisboa regions, so we should have everybody’s taste covered.

The one trick that we have to solve each year with wines from Portugal is just finding quality wines available here to buy. Over 90% of Portuguese wines are sold domestically, in Brazil, Angola and China. (the first two countries can read the label, the last doesn’t care :-) leaving little for the European market. And what we do find is normally very limited. Fortunately, this month we were lucky to rediscovered a great importer right here in Vinohrady – Cafe Oliveira and a new partner Cerfis Wines.  So if you have to have that cheese you had on holiday in Madeira, and that lovely red to go with, this is the place!

Enjoy

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