Port Wine & Vinho Verde

Portugal is a world-class wine country—with a vineyard area that is among the largest in Europe and a wine culture that dates back over 2,000 years. Two wines are inextricably linked to the country.

Port Wine

The Vinho do Porto is Portugal's most famous export and one of the great wines of the world. It is grown in the Douro Valley—a spectacular, UNESCO-protected terraced landscape that stretches 100 km along the river. The steep slate slopes (some over 60 degrees) have been transformed into terraces by hand over centuries.

The peculiarity: Fermentation is stopped by adding brandy (Aguardente), preserving the natural sugar. The result is a sweet, strong wine with 19–22% alcohol. The main styles:

• Ruby—young, fruity, the entry-level. Affordable and good as a dessert or aperitif wine
• Tawny—aged in barrels (10, 20, 30, or 40 years), amber-colored, with aromas of caramel, nuts, and dried fruits. A 20-Year-Old Tawny is the perfect Port wine for many
• Vintage Port—a Port wine from a single vintage, but less elaborate than Vintage
• Vintage—declared only in outstanding vintages, a Port wine for eternity (and the budget)
• White Port—made from white grapes, served as an aperitif with tonic water and a sprig of mint (Porto Tónico)

The major Port wine houses (Caves) are located in Vila Nova de Gaia, directly opposite Porto on the south bank of the Douro: Taylor's, Graham's, Sandeman, Ramos Pinto, and many more. Tours with tastings cost 15–25 € and are a must-do in Porto.

Vinho Verde

Vinho Verde (literally: "green wine") comes from the Minho in northern Portugal and is not green, but a young, fresh wine—slightly sparkling, acidic, with a low alcohol content (8–11%). It is the perfect summer wine and the ideal companion to fish and seafood. Vinho Verde is available in white (most common), rosé, and red. The best come from the Alvarinho grape variety from the Monção/Melgaço region near the Spanish border.