Virtual Portugal March 2021

A new era is dawning for everyone involved in classrooms and events. Using modern technology, we can enjoy learning about our favourite wines (and gin) from the comfort and safety of our own homes. This has the added advantage that nobody needs to be the “designated driver”.

Using Zoom video conferencing is just like being in the room with Gary, who will, as ever educate, inform and entertain you for about an hour.

All sessions will be recorded and if you can't attend at the last minute just let us know so you can go through the event at your convenience later.

Why not invite your friends to make it a truly social experience?

Portugal is a wine producing country often overlooked in the shadow of its illustrious and much larger Spanish neighbour. However, excellent wines in both traditional and modern styles are produced here and often represent excellent value for money as well.

There are many indigenous grape varieties to appreciate and several totally unique Portuguese styles. Many wines are blends of little-known varieties made in the same way for centuries, others incorporate international varieties using modern vinification techniques.

We are dedicating 3 weeks to Portuguese wines, allowing us some time to explore this fascinating country’s wines.

Wednesday 17th March

We start in the far north of the country, the Minho with a traditional Vinho Verde, made from Alvarinho. This region neighbours Spain’s Rias Baixas where the same grape is known as Albariño.

The next wine is from the South of Lisbon where the climate is much warmer. A modern style red wine from Alentejano featuring an eclectic mix of grapes; Aragonês, Trincadeira and Alicante Bouchet

• Vila Nova Alvarinho, Vinho Regional Minho 2019
• Alabastro Vinho Regional Alentejano 2018

Wednesday 24th March

The heartland of traditional Portuguese wine production lies between the cities of Lisbon and Oporto. Here the tradition is very much for tannic red wines made from indigenous grape varieties. However, modern winemaking techniques are now widely used to make the wines more approachable in their youth.

Barraida is a DOC that traditionally uses the fiercely tannic grape variety, Baga as its mainstay. Our example combines this variety with Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacionale. The winemaking style is intended to tame the tannin, emphasising the fruit for early drinking.

Dão whilst always well-known was known in the “bad old days” for producing wines that were rather lacking in fruit and taking many years before becoming drinkable. Modern Dão retains the best of the traditional style but in an updated modern style. Our example is a blend dominated by Portugal’s best grape variety – Touriga Nacionale, aged in oak for 12 months.

• Aliança Bairrada DOC Reserva 2018
• Quinta da Garrida Dão DOC Reserva 2015

Wednesday 31st March

Many will be very familiar with Portugal’s most famous wine-related product – Port made in the Douro valley. However, whilst the ruby and tawny styles are widely available, the white version is not as well known. Here we sample a traditional white Port from Krohn.

We finish our tour of Portugal with another wine from the Douro, a red wine made from traditional Port grapes Tinta Baroca, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Francesca.

• Krohn Lágrima White Porto DOC NV
• Quatro Ventos Douro DOC 2018

Costs

£40 for all three sessions. The cost is per subscription, so this could be for 2 people (or more) as long as you are sharing a screen in the same household. Note: this does not include the cost of the wines (see below).

The wines are available to purchase from Momentum Wines in Oswestry at the discounted price of £84.95 including delivery (please allow 7 days for delivery).

Please click this link to be taken to the Momentum Wines site.

We do not sell wine.

Places remaining: 3

Course Date/Time: Wed 17th Mar 2021 at 7.30pm

Duration: 3 x 1 Hr

Venue: Zoom (Link sent by email)