Here are our suggestions for Portuguese alternatives to your favourite go-to wines. If you have a favourite go-to wine whether its Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir, Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio you will find Portugal has a fresh alternative that offers great value for money !
White wines
Sauvignon Blanc – why not try a bottle of Loureiro, this lovely wine from northern vinho verde region has similar citrus and apple notes along with the refreshing acidity that you find in a crisp Sauvignon Blanc
If you love Chardonnay sample a bottle of white wine from the Douro such as Aneto Branco. The ripe tropical fruit and balanced acidity is a great match for New World Chardonnays
An Alvarinho such as Muralhas from northern vinho verde region with its rounded stone fruit and pear flavours is a great alternative to Riesling
If your favourite tipple is the fashionable Pinot Grigio you might want to try a white wine such as Lagar de Darei from the Dao region and enjoy its lovely floral notes and fruity flavours.
If you love a dessert wines like Sauternes with its luscious honeyed sweetness try a Late Harvest Semillon from the Aneto wines in the Douro valley – you won’t be disappointed !
Red wines
If Pinot Noir is your favourite red wine you can choose from an elegant Lagar de Darei from Dao region with its red fruit flavours or a Padrao dos Povos from Tras-os-montes (literally ‘behind the mountains’ the remote hinterland north of the Douro)
If Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are more your thing then try a Douro red such as Pinalta Classico with its intense aroma of black fruit, prunes and jam.
A Douro red such as Aneto Tinto will give you intense blackberry fruit and spice flavours, reminiscent of a big juicy Shiraz !
