From Algarve beaches to the breathtaking mountains of the north, Portugal is a land of contrasts. Portugal’s winemakers have been conservative in one respect – keeping faith with their grapes. And no wonder! Portugal’s varieties are unique, with thrillingly different flavours. Yet quality-wise there has been no resting on traditional laurels. A quarter-century of investment, education, open-mindedness and flair has meant explosive change. Choice has multiplied too. Alongside co-ops and large companies, myriad estates now make their own distinctive wines.
Terroir is so diverse. From north to south, from east to west, from mountain to maritime vineyards, hot and dry or cool and green. In every style, from fizz to port, from crisp dry whites to elegant reds, in so many diverse ways, Portuguese wines are unique.
Portugal has a long tradition in winemaking; in fact the history producing wine in this country comes from much earlier than the foundation of its Nationality. Portuguese wine comes from vineyards that are planted from the northern to the southern Portuguese regions. Although Portugal is a small country has a great variety of soils and climate as well as Portuguese wine varietals allowing a great diversity of Portuguese wines. Portugal is amongst the largest wine producers in the world, had ranked 10th in 2004. Portuguese wines include Port wine, Madeira wine, red wines, white wines, “vinho verde” and moscatel de Setubal.
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Portugal
Vinho Verde
Casa De Villa Verde
Located in the region of Vinhos Verdes, in the heart of the Sousa River valley, Casa de Vila Verde is one of the oldest houses in the region.
Always property of the same family, Pinto de Mesquita, Casa de Vila Verde construction date is unknown, though the 12th or 13th century has been suggested as a likely period due to the existence of a medieval tower. Casa de Vila Verde was already mentioned
during the reign of King Manuel I (1469-1521).
With an agricultural area of around 100 hectares, Casa de Vila Verde has a long tradition as a Vinho Verde producer, with records of these wines dating back to the 17th century.
Alentejo - Tagus Creek
Joao Portugal Ramos is one of Portugal's superstar winemakers, he was born into a family with a long history of wine production. He studied Agronomy in Lisbon and later became an oenologist in the Alentejo region in Portugal - the climate is warm and many of the new wines from here have a 'new world' twist to them. Joao is a consultant winemaker to the Tagus Creek range overseeing its high standard of quality right through the vinification process.
RibateJano - Terra De Lobos
Terra de Lobos wines are made by the Casal Branco estate which is located on the left bank of the Tagus river in the Ribatejano region. The estate has been owned by the same family for more than two centuries. The Vineyards have been planted with predominantly Portuguese grape varieties such as the white 'Ferno Pires' while red varieties include 'Trincadeira', 'Castelao' and 'Touriga Nacional'.
More main stream grape vaireties such as Sauvingon Blanc & Cabernet Sauvignon are blended with these indigenous grape varieties.
Alentejo Marques De Borba
Joao Portugal Ramos is one of Portugal's superstar winemakers, he was born into a family with a long history of wine production. He studied Agronomy in Lisbon and later became an oenologist in the Alentejo region in Portugal - the climate is warm and many of the new wines from here have a 'new world' twist to them. In 1990 he started planting 5 hectares of vineyards in Estremoz and he had his first harvest in 1992.
The winery has grown considerably since then but it still manages to harmoniously combine the best of Portuguese wine-growing traditions with the most modern up-to-date vinification technology.
Douro - Offley Port
OFFLEY'S history goes back to 1737, the year in which the Englishman William Offley founded the company to which he gave his own name. It is however from the 19th century onwards that the company acquired a new dynamism. In 1831, Joseph James Forrester, a nephew of the founder, joined the company. An academic and an artist, James Forrester was the first person to map the River Douro and its region, as well as to draw
maps that became works of reference.
