Food and Wine World

When we think of the great wine producing regions we typically think of France, Australia, California and a few others. However not many people think about drinking Portuguese wine. It may surprise you then if I told you that Portugal have been producing wine since the early 18th century and have been trading wines with many parts of the world.

Actually, there are stories of Portugal producing wines as long a go as 2000 B.C. Production techniques have obviously changed and adapted since then but it might just be that Portugal have been a wine growing nation since the Phoenicians.

You don’t have to be an avid wine buff to know that Portugal’s most famous wine exports are port and Madeira which are fortified wines. Portugal has a great more to offer than just fortified wines however, there are many varieties you’ll want to get your taste buds around.

Like most wine growing countries, Portugal has different wine regions. Each region produces its characteristic grape varieties. What makes Portuguese wine tasting so interesting is that all the grape varieties are distinct to each particular area and they only use native grapes. This of course is highly different from South African, New Zealand and Californian wines which can be a blend of grapes from all over the world. The Portuguese government make sure that the wine produced is the best you can possibly buy and there are strict quality controls.

If you are keen to taste wines from Portugal you will find that it’s not all that easy to buy as they aren’t well known outside of Portugal.

Alentejo Wine is produced in the southern part of the country and is made form the alentejo grape. The grape produces a fruity and soft white with an edge of acidity. You’ll find that this wine is one of the most popular in Portugal.

Bairrada Wine – 80% of wines from this region are red and 95% of these come from the baga grape. Baga grapes are thick skinned and produce wines which are acidic and high in tannins. A local tradition is to add in the stems during the fermentation process which makes this wine variety very tough and challenging to drink. However the better wine producers can actually produce a very palatable wine.

Colares Sand Wine – This wine is actually grown in very sandy soil just outside Lisbon. These are one of the most expensive wines simply due to supply and demand. There isn’t that much wine growing land around Lisbon because of urban sprawl so there supply cannot meet demand. You will find both wine and red wines from this region.

Dão Wine – The region of Dao is in the north of the country and enjoys a more temperate climate. It is a mountainous region and as a resul the hills protect the grapes from wind off the sea. They produce both red and white wines which are very fuity and the minimum alcohol content is 11%. Those who are in the wine industry claim that these wines are amongst the best in Portugal. Grão Vasco and Aliança are just two which are recommended to anyone looking to taste Portuguese wines.

If you are keen to start tasting wines from Portugal, or better still, taste wines in Portugal, there are some Portuguese wine terms you might like to learn.

• Adega - Winery
• Branco - White
• Casta - Grape variety
• Colheita Vintage year
• Garrafeira - A reserve red wine which has been aged for at least 2 years in the barrel plus one year in the bottle. A white wine must be aged for at least 6 months in a barrel and only 6 months in the bottle.
• Maduro - These are mature wines which are produced in all regions of Portugal except for ones which are produced in the Vinho Verde region. You are very unlikely to see this term on any bottle.
• Quinta - Vineyard
• Reserva - A superior quality wine made from a single vintage.
• Seco - Dry
• Tinto - Red
• Verde - Green and opposite of Maduro. Vinho Verde wines are produced in a distinct way.
• Vinho - Wine

If you have never tasted wine from Portugal or want to go wine tasting in Portugal you will find that there’s something that you will enjoy. Whether you love robust reds or fruity whites

Wine is certainly not a new invention.  Our enjoyment for this alcoholic liquid goes back centuries when people considered it fit for only Kings and Gods.  Our love for wine, if anything, has only got stronger and even doctors advocate us drinking a glass or two every night.  It’s even been linked to the prevention of cancer and low cholesterol.

Wine and Spirits

Wine and spirits can be seen as something to drink to help you have a good time and dispel worries you have in life.  They can also help enhance any food that you are eating.  Even if you aren’t a big drinker, having wine and sprits in your home is always a good idea.

Most wine and spirits are consumed for two main reasons and they are:

Enhance You Dining:  When eating a meal it’s generally regarded that you should drink wine rather than spirits as spirits will interfere with the taste of your food in a bad way.

Relaxation and Pleasure:  Lots of people turn to wine, spirits and other alcoholic beverages to help them relax.  They’re also largely associated with watching sports on the TV and family get-togethers.  Of course there is no concept of parties or any other from of celebration without wine and spirits even if the hosts are not drinkers.

Word of Warning:  It would be irresponsible for me to say that all alcohol is good and can be consumed in any quantity you wish.  Alcohol can be very dangerous to your health is consumed too often.  Also in some people drinking too much alcohol can make them aggressive and do things they might not do when sober.

Helpful Tips

• Don’t drink and drive at all.  Wine glasses are getting bigger and bigger plus the alcoholic content is becoming stronger.  You may think that two wine glasses is not that much but it can now equate to a third of a bottle.
• Don’t let your children get hold of any alcohol
• Drink alcohol for the taste and drink slowly.  Avoid drinking purely to get drunk.  Also make sure you drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
• Your doctor may tell you drinking a glass a day is perfectly healthy, but please, don’t assume that drinking a bottle a day will be even healthier.  People can easily become alcoholics without realizing they have a problem
• Wine and spirit are closely linked to having a good time but things can easily get out of hand and become nasty.  If you know someone who you think has a drink problem, contact one of the specialized centers for advice.  Unfortunately there is little you can do to help; an alcoholic has to admit there is a problem first.