Marla Cimini on November 7, 2016 0 Comments With a sunny, mild Mediterranean climate, glorious mountain ranges and a picturesque shoreline that stretches around much of the country, Portugal is an optimal location for wine production. However, the nearby countries of France, Spain and Italy have been traditionally attracting most of the attention among wine lovers for their own vintages. In recent years, Portugal has been shining in its own spotlight for award-winning, internationally-recognized wines. In addition, travelers have been adding Portugal to their must-visit wine destinations and participating in wine-tasting itineraries as they traverse the country. A native to Portugal, Rodolfo Tristão has been a professional sommelier since 2002. An experienced wine aficionado, he has a great deal of experience in the wine world, especially Portuguese wines. Currently, he is the president of the Sommeliers’ Association of Portugal and is also a professor at the Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism, where he teaches Enogastronomy. Since March 2016, he has been working closely with acclaimed Portuguese chef José Avillez, who runs several notable restaurants in Lisbon. Avillez’s flagship restaurant, Belcanto, was awarded two Michelin stars in 2014 and focuses on molecular gastronomy. His roster of other eateries are all located in the same part neighborhood and equally popular. They include Café Lisboa; Mini Bar; Cantinho do Avillez; and Pizzaria Lisboa. Tristão explains, “We are a small country but we have rich, diverse and interesting wine offerings, because of the array of terroirs, grapes and gastronomy. Each region has different, exciting and very special wines. Portugal offers an amazing discovery for wine lovers because you won’t find these particular wines in other parts of the world.” At Avillez’s variety of restaurants, there is a strong emphasis on local and Portuguese cuisine, albeit with a modern spin and clever presentation. Guests will immediately notice that there is a wide selection of Portuguese wines on the menus, reflecting a wide selection of bottles from across the country. The restaurants are noted for their trained staff who always educate their customers about the diverse wines available in Portugal, and encourage consumption of these vintages. Tristão says, “Our wine list includes all the regions of Portugal, from Douro region to Alentejo and Algarve — including Azores and Madeira islands. We aim to promote the quality of our wines presenting the different terroirs of Portugal and selecting the wines that perfectly match with our gastronomy. We select wines produced with Portuguese grapes…and some of these wines are even unique and rare to our Portuguese customers. One of our commitments is to support small producers and wineries that produce high quality wines that reflect the identity of Portuguese flavors. But we also have high quality wines from larger companies, so our customers can taste the most famous Portuguese wines.” As one of the oldest regions in Portugal, the Lisboa wine region is a fertile area and has been producing a robust selection of both red and white varietals since the Roman times. Surrounding the valley are the Montejunto Mountains that protect the vineyards from the cold, harsh winds of the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the many wineries that you can visit around the region the city of Lisbon and surrounding areas are: 1. Bacalhoa Located about 30 minutes from the city of Lisbon, Bacalhoa is one of the largest winemakers in the entire country, as the brand has several wineries located throughout a number of regions in Portugal. A visit to Bacalhoa can easily be a full-day event, as the winery offers an array of tours of their sprawling estates and wine cellars, as well as a number of wine tasting opportunities. In addition to the vintages, this unique company features several world-class museums at their wineries, featuring highly prized collection of African art, a priceless display of authentic Portuguese tiles, as well as artifacts and sculpture from across the world. Several of the company’s best-selling wines include Quinta da Bacalhoa red; Catarina white; Cova da Ursa chardonnay and many others. 2. Quinta do Monte D´Oiro This medium-sized winery is considered a top producer in Portugal and is a member of the Lisbon family of vineyards. Since they are located in an area that is very similar to the region of Cote du Rhône, their main grapes grown here are Syrah and Viognier. This winery also has a close working relationship with chef Avillez, as they produce his own in-house label. A few of their best-selling wines are Lybra red, white and rose (made from 100% syrah) and Tempera, made with tinta roriz and aged in oak barrels for 14 months. For visitors, they offer tastings and tours (best booked in advance). 3. Quinta do Pinto A family-run estate, this winery offers many different combinations of grapes with distinctive character, blending Portuguese with international grapes from the Rhône. Although a traditional-style winery, it incorporates the latest, state-of-the-art technology to produce the highest quality wines possible. With a dedication to the land and over 50 acres of sloping vineyards, Quinta do Pinto is dedicated to producing top-quality grapes grown in rich soils that create excellent wines. Several of their wines include Vinhas do lasso; Terras do Anjo; Quinta do Pinto and Grande Escolha. Guided tours and tastings are available and advance reservations are required. 4. Casal Santa Maria, Colares Surrounded by panoramic seascapes and situated on sandy soil, this winery is located in one of the areas that was not affected by the devastating phylloxera in 1860. This winery is owned by the legendary Baron Von Bruemmer — the oldest producer in the world at 104 years of age. The wines offer a robust and unexpected notes, as they are made with international grapes, including sauvignon, pinot noir and chardonnay, as well as some Portuguese grapes, mainly arinto, malvasia and ramisco (traditional grapes from Colares). 5. Quinta da Murta, Bucelas History abounds at this iconic estate, located in the hills in the smaller sub-region of Bucelas, near one of the ancient Roman roads that crosses the country. It is also next to the last northern Anglo-Portuguese fortification against the troops of Napoleon. Today, this winery is biodynamic and incorporates state-of-the art wine production. This region is the home of the famed arinto grape that shares some similarities with grapes grown in specific regions of Germany and Alsace, France. This winery produces an array of wines, including “The Wine of Shakespeare” White 2012; and Red Touriga Nacional & Syrah 2011. Quinta welcomes guests every day and hosts events, tours and tastings. Not surprisingly, Tristão is a devoted advocate of Portuguese tourism and recommends when travelers visit Portugal they make it a point to truly experience the wine culture for themselves. He says, “I always suggest that visitors spend some time in Portugal and try our Portuguese wines and cuisine. We have the best fish and seafood in the world, and one of the richest gastronomy in the world.” Tristão also suggests, “Visitors to Portugal can start an amazing journey discovering some of the lesser known wine regions, like Dão, Bairrada — or even Tejo. They should try the local grapes, because in some cases they are outstanding. Of course, then they should try Douro and Alentejo wine, which are easier to find. At Jose Avillez’s restaurants, we have amazing wines menus. I think it’s a wonderful place to start.”
