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Portuguese wine
Although Portugal has a small size is still amongst the 10 largest wine producers in the world. Abroad probably the best known Portuguese wines are the Port and Madeira wines. Both of them are fortified wines and were invented by accident. In the 17th and 18th centuries often wines were shipped for long distances and brandy was added as a preservative. Certainly the alliance made by Portugal and Britain through the Treaty of Windsor in 1386 was a starting point for the arrival of British that settled in Portugal as early as the 15th century. By the 18th century Port and Madeira wines were leading Portuguese exports.
Currently the many Portuguese wineries are up-to-date to the current winemaking knowledge and technology. Despite innovation is part of the current Portuguese wine sector there have been efforts to preserve the existing wine heritage. The current wine producing innovations started in the 1990s with new winery equipment with ability to control the fermentation temperatures. Also innovations were introduced in Portuguese vineyards where e for example grapes started to be harvested mechanically. Therefore Portuguese winemakers are trying to fulfill the potential for producing fine table wines which is fruit from the exiting soil, climate and grape varietals.
Portuguese wines today are starting to be known not just for Porto and Madeira but there are quality wines starting to be known internationally. Such wines are certainly beyond Mateus Rosé which is probably the largest volume wine exported from Portugal. Would be probably unwise to name them as some might be forgotten but they certainly will come from the traditional Portuguese wine regions. From the North to South there are many regions which produce very interesting wine including Vinho Verde, Douro Valley, Bairrada, Dão, Ribatejo, Terras do Sado and Alentejo.
Tags: Drinks, Made in Portugal
I’m Portuguese and am very proud of our wines. A good Porto with a good Portuguese meal… Mmmm