Wine Shop
Portugal has it all: Unique terroirs, local grapes, old vines, old traditions of wine making. At its best, the red wines can compete with the best of France, Spain, and Italy. On the other side, the bulk of the production shows incredibly good value, easy drinking wines; probably the best value wines in the world. Portugal is slowly waking up from a deep sleep which ended up in 1974 with the end of the Salazar dictatorship. They are rediscovering their terroirs, their local grapes, and are adding a touch of modernity without, as is often the case, selling their souls and betraying tradition. Here, the use of oak is very subtle. Oak is still widely considered a neutral component, not a way to dress up the wines and hide them behind vanilla flavors. This careful balance between a very strong heritage and modernity makes Portugal one of the most interesting and underrated wine countries in the world. It is time to learn, taste, and enjoy these wines, dispersed over eight regions and 40 different appellations.