Portugese Wine

Portugal lies on the western flank of the Iberian peninsula just south of Spanish political region of Galicia. Although Portugal is quite small in comparison to its eastern neighbor, it produces an incredible diversity of under appreciated, high quality wines. read moreFrom bright, effervescent wines of Vinho Verde to complex, bold fortified wines of Port and Madeira, there is a style to fit every palate. And with 17 different and unique regional wine demarcations, it is worthwhile to not only explore more popular regions such as the Douro and Vinho Verde, but also up and coming regions like the Alentejo, Dao, Bairrada and Extremadura. With over 230 indigenous grapes - of which the red varietal, Touriga Nacional, is most widely recognized - several others have gained considerable traction over the years. Popular red varietals also include: Tinta Roriz, Touriga Francesca, Jaen, Alfrocheiro Preto, Periquita and Baga, and for whites: Loureiro and Alvarinho in Vinho Verde, Arinto in Buceles and Fernao Pires in the Ribatejo. And if you're in the mood to explore, may be suggest looking into the sweet dessert wines from Setabul made with Moscatel or unctuous fortified white wines made on, and named after, the island of Madeira.

Credit: Gabriella and Ryan Opaz are the co-founders of Catavino.net, a website dedicated to Spanish and Portuguese wines.