The very first wines imported by Wine Alliance when we started were from Portugal. Not perhaps the obvious first choice but there was something about the wines and the wineries that really clicked with us and of course the price / quality ratio was (and still is) off the charts.
I’m just back from a quick trip to see my two main wineries in Setubal and the Douro Valley. It was a lovely trip with many highlights. My darling wife and fellow director of Wine Alliance came along to meet the wineries and see first hand why I get so excited about Portuguese wines. Well, they certainly rolled out the red carpet.
A short spin from Lisbon brought us to the Santo Isidro do Pegoes winery. Eva, our wonderful guide brought us to one of their best vineyards and it was very impressive. Lots of grape varieties there including Touriga Nacional, Castelao, Alicante Bouchet, Tinta Roriz, Chardonnay, Arinto to name a few. The list goes on and on. The vineyard manager has worked there for over 40 years.
A full tour of the winery followed and we finished off with a lovely tasting of a cross section of wines from their impressive range accompanied by local meats, breads and cheeses. The single varietal wines really impressed and samples are on their way with my order that leaves this week.
A four hour drive the following day took us to the beautiful town of Peso Do Regua in the Douro Valley, home of Quinta Do Judeu. Its owner, Andre Marinho Pinto brought us to a lovely local restaurant across the river from one of his three vineyards, the beautiful Covelinhas. We piled into Andres jeep and climbed the incredibly steep and terrifying roads to the very top of the estate.
Now, people always say that the views in the Douro are incredible but nothing can really prepare you for the absolute jaw dropping scale of it. Stunning scenery as far as the eye can see. Each of his amazing vineyards left us in awe at the sheer beauty of this incredible part of the world.
So a wonderful trip. What impressed, apart from the incredible beauty of the country was of course the quality of the wine. The Douro is known more for its ports and rich red wines but it was the whites that perhaps surprised the most. Marvelous complex wines that offer amazing value. The reds ( and ports) were awesome too naturally.
Most of all though, it was the people that left the biggest impression. The generosity and warmth of the hospitality was amazing and you can see the obvious pride in their vineyards, wineries and of course their wines. I would heartily encourage you to visit this amazing part of the world if you get a chance. It will astound you.
