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A relative newcomer on the world wine scene, Portuguese wines have been
rediscovered and promoted only in the last 20 years or so.
Porto is the largest city in the northern region of Portugal, which is
noted for the great contrast between the light, fresh and often fizzy
wines of Vinho Verde and the heavyweights of the Douro, which include
Port.
Vinho verde ‘sparkling wine’, is grown in the northwest corner.
Country wines from the northeast are made in the area between the Spanish
border to the north and east and four mountain ranges to the west. The
northern part is high with hot summers and cold winters. The
southern part includes the Douro valley and is known as terra quente –
or hot land.
The Vinho verde region is best known for its slightly under-ripe wines,
with a slightly sparkling character. They are mainly white, and the best
are made from the alvarinho grape, as well as the azal, ljurerio and
rabigato.
Wines from the Douro region are beginning to be accepted as some of
Portugal’s finest. Although excellent white wines are produced here, the
area is best known for its great reds.
Information and Photographs on these and following pages have been
sourced from:
www.portugalinsite.pt
www.portugal.org
www.visitportugal.com
www.winesofportugal.org
www.ivp.pt
www.vinhoverde.pt |
