Smooth, fresh Portuguese pair at a bargain price!
When it comes to wine, Portugal is a land steeped in tradition. This long and narrow country is quite small; however, its great diversity of both climate and landscape provides a wealth of terroir perfect for its many traditional grape varieties.
Few of the standard European red wine grapes are grown here. Instead, you’ll find blends featuring Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Roriz (know as Tempranillo in Spain), and Touriga Franca, along with an extensive list of other indigenous varietals. In addition to being the foundation of Port — Portugal’s famous fortified dessert wine — these grapes are used to produce wonderful, dry red table wines. This week’s featured wine is a blend of 30% Castelao, 30% Aragonez, 30% Trincadeira Preta, and the remaining 10% is a field blend.
Red wine may rule the roost in Portugal; however, that doesn’t imply there’s an absence of exceptional white wine. The blistering hot and punishingly dry climate of Southern Portugal makes white wine production significantly more challenging than in the north. Southern wine-producing regions regularly see less than 20 inches of rainfall yearly, and summer temperatures often peak past 100 degrees Fahrenheit — all making it very difficult to make wine with freshness and balanced acidity. Fortunately, the coastal influence enjoyed in the Tejo region provides just the right climate for producing light, fresh, and zippy whites.
The most important and prolific white grape in the Tejo region is Fernão Pires, locally known as “Maria Gomes.” It does particularly well in Tejo, producing highly aromatic whites with wonderful tropical notes and soft minerality
Bandol - Vineyards on the Med
You’ll find the Tejo wine region in central Portugal, just a quick drive from the capital city of Lisbon. The area surrounding the Tejo River, steeped in wine history and viticulture, has been an active and very important part of the region since Roman times.
Like most of the world’s wine producing areas, the influence of the region’s river provides ideal conditions along the its banks and surrounding plains for the multitude of local grape varieties. The gentle hills and sloping plains feature vineyards that are a mixture of clay and limestone soils with patches of schist — all encouraging the vines to dig deeper for nourishment and moisture.
Portugal's largest Cooperative
Located close to the right bank of the Tejo River, Adega de Almeirim is one of Portugal’s largest cooperatives. With close to 200 members farming more than 2000 hectares of vines, this economy of scale allows for the super high production quality at bargain basement prices. Add António Ventura (Portuguese Oenologist of the year in 2006) to this recipe and you have an unbeatable combination.
Lezíria
Tejo, Portugal
Branco and Tinto - Can't make it in? Call 828-253-0060 with your credit card number.
We'll hold your purchase in our temperature controlled cellar for pickup at your convenience
or we'll arrange for delivery.