Portuguese winemaking is a craft going back centuries. Small family owned vineyards like the one I toured can be found in all 8 grape growing regions of Portugal. While best known for its port, I tasted several Portuguese table wines that I couldn’t resist bringing home.

The wines produced in the family vineyards of Portugal are excellent and include dry reds and whites, sweet Muscat, sparkling roses, and even green wine. The taste of these wines is based on local growing conditions and the specific variety of grapes being grown. The Douro growing region north central Portugal produces port wine. This region also makes robust red table wines with the same grapes they use to make port.

Along the northern coastal region of Portugal you will find the Minho grape growing region.  Vinho verde or green wine is made in this region. This unique style of wine is slightly fizzy and very dry. After tasting my first glass of green wine, I purchased a bottle of Casal Garcia made from the Alvarinho grape near the Spanish border.

My favorite Portuguese wine comes from the Alentejo region. The Alentejo region produces both red and white wine. My personal preference is a hearty red and I was very happy with the bottle of Monte Velho red table wine I brought home. This wine is bottled by Herdade do Esporao and can be purchased in the US at a very reasonable price.

 Many of the Portuguese wines I tasted were complex. They are ready to drink with little aging because the winemakers in Portugal are experts at blending grape varieties to create a rich taste. With the wide variety of wine easily available in Portugal you are sure to find wines to suit everyones palette. I also found the wines in Portugal were a real bargain.I enjoyed tasting the wines of Portugal and have continued trying new brands since I returned.