Category Archives: Portuguese wines

Casa do Capitão-Mor Reserva Alvarinho

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Quinta de Paços Sociedade Agrícola, Lda. is a family-based company driven by inemaker Luís Cardoso Meneses   which exploits its agricultural patrimony aiming to produce high-quality wines with a distinctive personality, resulting from a special emphasis on their natural and authentic character in Portugal.

The society’s patrimony comprises an area of around 200 hectares, divided into five estates in the municipality of Barcelos – Casa de Paços – Quinta de Paços, Prazo da Cotovia, Morgadio do Perdigão, Quinta de Vila Meã and Morgadio de Real – and one in the municipality of Monção – Casa do Capitão-Mor – Quinta da Boavista.

In the municipality of Barcelos, Casa de Paços – Quinta de Paços has remained a property of the same family for more than 400 years and 15 generations, maintaining a tradition of expertise on wine making in the region of Minho lasting for more than 4 centuries.
We tasted: Casa do Capitão-Mor Reserva Alvarinho 2016
This wine is produced on granitic calcareous covered by a land terrace of rolled pebbles. It is about 900m from the river Minho, and his average altitude is 60m high in a flat terrain.
The weather transition between continental and seashore climate, with mainly cold winters with no snow or frost, and hot summers whose temperatures reach 40o Celsius, this is the main secret of this Alvarinho.
The grapes are hand harvested, destemmed, and all of them are submitted to pellicular maceration for five hour, with temperature control. After being decanted. The must is fermented in stainless steel at low temperature and the wine stays on top of the slim lees with “batonnage” until bottling. Ages 6 months in bottle.
This wine has good citric color. It has a fruity aroma, soft, fresh. In the mouth has flavors citrus fruit, woodland cherries, fresh almond and peach, elegant and a pleasant finish in an outstanding balance.
Ideal with grilled fish, white meat and seasoned cheese. 
This wine is among 50 Best Portuguese Wines.

Poema Reserva 2015

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Inspired by history and the incomparable beauty of the landscape born the brand Poema to take the family legacy further, respecting the past and always looking into the future.

Every year a limited and numbered edition of Poema in Albariño cradle in Portugal is produced. We are in a magical place on the bank of Minho River, where the family lived peacefully in communion with nature since the seventeenth century.

Like their ancestors, the family work the land with the Alvarinho grape variety.
In 2000 was made a restructuring of vineyards undertaken by their predecessors Hermínio and Maria de Fátima – awarded by the French Ministry of Agriculture in 2003, with the medal of Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole and invaluable source of strength and knowledge.

Located in the northern most part of Portugal, the beauty of the countryside scenery.

Quinta do Louridal is located in Monção-Melgaço region considered the birthplace of the Alvarinho grape variety in Portugal.  Vineyards in amphitheatre shape are protected by the mountains, sheltered by the granite soils and spoilt by long sun exposure topped by a soft breeze from the Minho River.
This region, in the Minho River Valley, has a microclimate marked by the transition from an Atlantic to a Continental climate. Hot, dry summers with cool nights and cold humid winters.

We tasted: Poema Reserva 2015

This wine produced from Alvarinho grape variety, is very fresh with a stray yellow color and delicaate sparkling. In the mouth is very mineral wih orange and pineapple aromas. The taste is persistent and balanced, result of the prolonged stage in fine lees.

Pairing food

Ideal with fish, seafood, white meats, ham and soft cheeses.

This wine can be stored for several years to drink with pleasure in good company.

Casa da Tojeira: Vinho Verde Branco Alvarinho

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Casa da Tojeira is a beautiful manor house built in 17th century of a property in the Peneda-Gerês National park, combines luxurious modern amenities with the old days charm.

Casa da Tojeira produces the famous wine with the same name.

Nature lovers can explore the 20 hectares of the farm and enjoy a variety of leisure activities such as bicycle rides, swimming, horse riding or fishing.

We tatsed:Vinho Verde Branco Alvarinho/Trajadura Tojeira DOC

Vinification: The grapes are harvested by hand and destemmed followed by a soft pressing in order to preserve the characteristics aromas. After defecation by cold, the must is inoculated with selected yeasts. The fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats at controlled temperature of between 14-16ºC.

This wine has a Citrine colour, the aroma is elegant, with notes of tropical fruits, citrus and stone fruit and light floral. In the mouth is balanced and complex, with fresh acidity, engaging and persistent finish.

Pairing food: this wine is ideal accompany seafood dishes, oily fish and white meats.

Torres Vedras/Alenquer European wine city 2018

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Torres Vedras and Alenquer represent two Denominations of Origin (DOC) of the Lisbon region, possessing a strong tradition in the culture of the vine and the wine, that is maintained and defended. Wine and wine tourism are central to the economic development of the region, both through the production of numerous high quality wines, nationally and internationally recognized, as well as investments in tourist units that add to the wine production a high added value tourist component.

Territory (s) of secular winemaking tradition, Torres Vedras and Alenquer involve their resources, dynamics, infrastructures, equipment and services, with the main objective of fostering synergies with the economic agents of both municipalities.

In addition to its history and cultural heritage, Torres Vedras and Alenquer build a common future through a shared strategic vision in areas such as economic activity, especially wine production, adaptation to climate change and sustainability.

In short, Torres Vedras and Alenquer are a territory united by the past and the future, making sense in the present to assume, with responsibility and commitment, the challenge of being EUROPEAN WINE CITY, sharing the mission and vision of this initiative created by RECEVIN to promote a global economic activity that unites a vast set of cities, regions and countries of a constantly growing Europe.
About the “European Wine City”

The European Wine Cities Network, RECEVIN advanced in 2012 with the annual “European Wine City” competition, within the context of the defense and dissemination of tourism.

This competition is a unique opportunity for wine cities with a European vision to promote the development of the wealth, diversity and common resources of wine culture at European level, offering a better knowledge of the landscape, economy and gastronomy, for a better mutual understanding between the citizens of the European Union.

ÉvoraWine gathers 40 producers and more than 200 Wines of Alentejo

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The fifth edition of ÉvoraWine, dedicated to wine lovers, is scheduled for 2 and 3 June, with the presence of 40 producers and more than 200 Alentejo wines for tasting. See here the list of wineries that will be participating.

The event, which is presented as “a true showcase for Wines of Alentejo”, will take place in Praça do Giraldo in Évora and aims to make visitors aware of the best in the Alentejo, from wines, olive oils and other regional products .
The event, according to the promoters, also helps wine producers in the region to promote the new vintages and for visitors to contact producers and winemakers and taste Wines of Alentejo.

In addition to tidbits and musical entertainment, the initiative has commented tastings, initiation courses, debates, showcookings and workshops. Check here the program for the two days.

The initiative counts on several supports, among them of the Alentejo Regional Winegrowing Commission, Regional Entity of Tourism of Alentejo and Ribatejo and Évora City Hall.