Portugal may not be the first country you think of when you’re looking for new wines to sample. However, Portuguese wine production outdates many other countries; the Portuguese have been trading wine with the rest of the world since the early 18th century.
There are legends that tell of wine being produced in Portugal from as far back as 4000 years ago. Of course, the production was much different than it is today, but it is possible that Portugal has been producing wine since the time of the Phoenicians.
Distinctive and Exceptional
Nearly every wine drinker knows that the finest wines produced in Portugal have traditionally been port and Madeira, two fortified wines enjoyed all around the world. There is much more to the wines of Portugal, though, and every variety is as impressive as these well-known beverages.
Portugal has several different wine regions, each producing and using its own distinctive grape varieties. In fact, this is what makes Portuguese wine so unique among other wine-producing countries. The wines produced in Portugal are made from native grape species, and they are all distinctive to the area. There are government safeguards in place to ensure that all wine produced in Portugal is of the highest quality possible.
Many different types of wine come from Portugal, though not all of them are well-known in other parts of the world. Europe, especially England, is well acquainted with most of Portugal’s finest exports, but they have yet to gain the same popularity in the United States.
Alentejo Wine
The Alentejo region is in southern Portugal. The wines produced from the alentejo grapes are fruity, soft whites with a distinctive acidity. This is one of the most preferred wines for consumption within Portugal.
Bairrada Wine
The Regiao Demarcada da Bairrada produces white and red wines, but the most popular wine from this region is a sparkling white wine which is quite commonly found in Portuguese restaurants.
Colares Sand Wine
Near Lisbon, wine grapes are grown in sandy soil that is in short supply today due to the expansion of the city. Colares sand wine is produced in both red and white varieties, and has a distinctive fruity taste.
Dao Wine
The Regiao Demarcada do Dao is in northern Portugal, and it produces some very unique wines from several varieties of Portuguese grapes. These are widely thought to be the finest table wine produced in Portugal.
Moscatel Wine
Moscatel (Muscat in English) is one of the oldest varieties of Portuguese wine. It is a fortified wine that has been enjoyed for hundreds of years.
Port Wine
Port wines are fortified wines that can be enjoyed in either red or white varieties. This is one of the types of wine that made Portuguese wine known and loved around the world.
Vinho Verde
Vinho Verde is produced in northwest Portugal and does not go through an aging stage. It is the second most exported Portuguese wine, just after port.
Something for Everyone
As you can see by these brief descriptions, the wine of Portugal is varied and complex. You are sure to find a variety of Portuguese wine that agrees with you and your discerning palate.
Jewel
If you think it is difficult to choose a fine wine for your self or as a gift you are not completely wrong, buying such a wine is something you need to do some research for. But when you know what to look for it is much easier then you would think. There are many resources you can use online as well as offline. But when you are looking for a wine for yourself the key factor is your own personal preference, because it does not matter if the wine won big awards and how highly recommended a wine is , if the wine is not at your taste it is just not for you.
If you do not like that award winning, highly recommended, fine wine, it does not mean there is something wrong with your taste it just means that you have not found the right type of wine. Wine comes in different types a Merlot, chardonnay, Riesling, zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon or others. If you discover that you are a Merlot drinker and someone gives you an excellent Riesling that is a real fine wine, probably the best on the market, don’t automatically assume that you will love it just because it is highly recommend. When a wine is not your type you will just not like it.
Affordable fine wines
Drinking wine is not just something only the rich and wealthy can afford, good wines have become more affordable these days. And this is a good thing there was a time that wine, wine tasting and wine drinking was just for a certain type of people, and there was a high ’snob’ appeal surrounding it. Luckily this is no longer the case. Fine wines can still come with a higher price tag then the wines that are considered ordinary and can be bought at any wine store.
Wines can win prizes for there taste and when this is the case, the prizes can be pretty expensive. But there are ways to drink fine wines for a reasonable price, for example you can join clubs that give you access to wines at a normal price than what you would pay outside these kind of clubs. Picking out wines from smaller vineyards can also help you with finding fine wines at a very reasonable price.
Developing a taste for it
When you are just starting with drinking wine, you need to discover what kind of wines are to your taste and you can do this by tasting less high-end wines. By doing this you learn what type of wines you like and don’t like. When you know what you like and you buy a fine wine that has the same flavors and characteristics but is of a better quality you will know what everybody was talking about for years.
Wine that needs to age
Some wines will become better when they are are left in the cellar for a couple of years, but when you do not have the right facilities or you do not have a wine cellar you should not buy these wines otherwise it is possible that your expensive bottle of fine wine will taste like awful vinegar when you finally open it.
Genesis
Even though many just assume that wine tasting is sipping, swishing, and swallowing - many are amazed to find that it’s actually a bit more. Wine tasting is more of an art, an art that is used to distinguish the taste of fine wines. Wine can be a tasty and refreshing drink - if the bottle was stored correctly and aged properly.Wine tasting begins with the swishing. The reason why wine tasters swish the wine around in their mouths is to get the taste. Both the front and the back areas of the tongue contain taste buds, although neither one has any distinct sensation in taste. Taste buds can detect food and liquid that is bitter, salty or sweet, without a problem. To get the proper taste from wine however, you need to swish it around in your mouth and allow your taste buds and sense of smell to bring out the unique and fine flavors in the wine.When you have a cold however, the wine can taste very different. When tasting your wine, your sense of smell has a major impact on the taste. What many fail to realize, is that over 75% of our taste is due to our sense of smell. When we have a cold, our sense of smell is affected. Therefore, when eating or tasting wine with a cold, the taste will appear different. Wine tasters all over the world will tell you that tasting wine is more about a sense of smell than the actual taste buds.The art of wine tasting is indeed an art. Wine tasters do however, follow some general guidelines and rules that judge how great a wine is. These techniques can help you bring the most out of your wine, providing you follow them and know how to bring out the taste.The first thing to do with wine is to look. With wine, you can tell quite a bit about it by looking at it. You should always start by pouring the wine into a clear glass, then taking a few minutes to look at the color. As far as the color goes, white whines aren’t white, but actually yellow, green, or brown. Red wines on the other hand are normally a pale red or dark brown color. Red wine gets better with age, while white whines get more stale with age.Next, is the smell of the wine, which you should do in two steps. You should start with a brief smell to get a general idea of the wine, then take a deep, long smell. This deeper smell should allow you take the flavor of the wine in. The more experienced wine tasters prefer to sit back a bit and think about the smell before they actually taste the wine. Last but not least, is to taste the wine. To properly taste the wine, you should first take a sip, swish it around in your mouth, and then swallow. Once you swish the wine around in your mouth, you’ll bring out the rich and bold flavors of the wine. After swallowing, you’ll be able to distinguish the after taste of the wine, and the overall flavor.Once you have looked at the wine, smelled it, and finally tasted it, you’ll be able to evaluate the wine from a taster’s standpoint. This is the easiest way to determine the quality of the wine, and whether or not it has been properly stored and aged. As with all things in life - the more you taste wine - the better you will get at distinguishing the unique flavors.
Layla
