Page 130 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Lisbon

128  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

The Wines of Portugal

Although still overshadowed by the excellence and fame of
port, Portuguese table wine deserves to be taken seriously.
After years of investment in the industry, many of the reds,
such as the full-bodied wines from the Douro (made
with some of the same grapes as port), have established an Sparkling rosés, such as Mateus
attractive style all their own. Great whites are fewer, but most and Lancers, have been Portugal’s
regions have some. And of course there is vinho verde, the great export success. But the
usually white, light, slightly carbonated wine from the north. country now has many excellent
wines that reach beyond the easy-
drinking charms of these.
Wine Regions
Many of Portugal’s
wine regions
maintain their
Oporto • individual style
by specializing in particular
Portuguese grape
varieties. The introduction
of modern wine-making
techniques has improved
overall quality, and
as yet the increasing
use of imported grape
varieties seems no threat
to Portuguese individuality.
Key Vinho verde vineyards in the village
of Lapela, near Monção in the Minho
Vinho Verde
Douro
Lisbon Dão
•
Bairrada
Estremadura
Ribatejo
Setúbal
Alentejo

0 kilometres 50 Cellar of the Bussaco Palace Hotel, near
0 miles 25 Mealhada, famous for its red wine

How to Read a Wine Label This wine is from
the Douro and is
Tinto is red, branco is white, seco is made according to
dry and doce is sweet. Beyond that, DOC regulations for
the essential information concerns the the region.
producer, the region and the year. Wines
made to at least 80 per cent from The name of this wine
a single grape variety may give the means “banks of the Tua
name of that grape on the front label. river”, further specifying
Denominação de Origem Controlada its geographical origin.
(DOC) indicates that the wine has
been made according to the strictest Reserva means that the
regulations of a given region, but, as wine has been aged,
elsewhere, this need not mean higher probably in oak casks.
quality than the nominally simpler Vinho It also implies that the
Regional appellation. The back label The Sociedade Agrícola e Comercial wine is of higher quality
than non-reserva wine
often describes grape varieties and dos Vinhos Vale da Corça, Lda, from the same producer.
wine-making techniques. produced and bottled this wine.

128-129_EW_Lisbon.indd 128 17/10/16 11:34 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
What to Drink template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.2)
Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm