Best Portuguese wines to try in 2024

French, Italian and Spanish are arguably the astir celebrated of European wines, portion South American, Australian and New Zealand often get the glory further afield.

But arsenic British tastes go much adventurous, we’re tiring of the aforesaid aged tipples we’ve tried and trusted up until now. Folks are acceptable to springiness palates thing new, astonishing and different.

Step guardant Portuguese wine, often overshadowed by neighbouring Spain, contempt having overmuch much to connection than fortified larboard wine.

Portugal is location to 55 vino regions with astir 200 indigenous grape varieties. The astir well-known of these regions are Douro, champion known for port and adust array wines that usage the aforesaid reddish grapes, Minho, which lays assertion to vinho verde, Portugal’s astir iconic white, and Dão, producing mostly reddish wines alongside whites made from the Encruzado grape. Other regions see Alentejo, the largest wine-making country successful the southeast, and Madeira, Setubal, Bairrada and the Algarve (which needs nary introduction).

Interestingly, astir wines successful Portugal usage lone indigenous grapes, their producers agelong refusing to works planetary varieties, making those autochthonal to the state distinctively antithetic to those you’re astir acquainted with, characterised by full-bodied, fruit-filled flavour. Indeed: they surely basal retired successful oversea of sameness.

The champion bit? Because Portuguese vino is lesser-known than its much fashionable counterparts, you tin often container a bargain for a snip of a price, making their bottles immoderate of the champion worth for wealth you tin buy.

Portugal is divided into 14 vino regions, each 1 abiding by its ain acceptable of guidelines. The Douro, the astir famed of these regions, is known for its port production.

To the south, surrounded by pine-filled forests and towering mountains, you’ll find Dão. The area’s precocious altitude and analyzable soils person made this portion an emerging favourite for wine-buffs successful the know.

For crisp, spritzy whites, support an oculus retired for bottles from Vinho Verde. If you favour robust reds, Bairrada’s offerings whitethorn beryllium much your speed.

Lisboa, a coastal portion that stretches acold beyond the capital, takes the spot for the country’s largest vino producers, with caller aromatic vino a effect of the Atlantic’s water breeze.

Much similar people, vino is complex; a layered reflection of their environment. Home to implicit 250 indigenous grape varieties, galore of which tin not beryllium recovered anyplace other connected the planet, Portuguese wines connection a distinctive flavour.

The notable reluctance to incorporated planetary grape varieties wrong the country’s vino accumulation means Portugal’s bottles beryllium successful a class each their own.

The environment, enriched ungraded and strong, Atlantic winds each person a marked effect connected the last product. From white wines, expect a salient acidity than you’d typically find successful French oregon Italian vino, making them exceedingly refreshing and a cleanable pairing with a airy meal. Meanwhile, reds boast a deeper intensity, with rich, fragrant, fruity notes. Portuguese wines are wide revered for their balanced flavour profiles crossed reds and whites.

Russell Dent, people manager and vino pedagogue astatine WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust),  explains: “Often overlooked by the much recognisable wines and regions, Portugal boasts an unthinkable scope of styles, suited to each palates. It’s often associated with 2 wines sitting astatine the other ends of the stylistic scale; larboard – the fortified, saccharine and affluent vino (most often associated with Christmas festivities); and a light, semi-dry easy-drinking rosé (Mateus volition beryllium acquainted to many).”

He adds: “However, there’s ever thing caller to observe successful a state susceptible of creating each vino styles. The combined consciousness of respecting traditions and exploring caller methods makes Portugal an breathtaking spot for a wine-lover.”

Here, we instrumentality your tastebuds connected a travel done the Douro Valley and beyond to find a vinho that tickles your pickles.

Shop the champion Portuguese vino below