Fine Portuguese Wine

Besides the famous port wine, Portugal is famous for some other forms of wines like Madeira wines and table wines. Madeira wine hails from Madeira Island and is produced using the port method.

The main difference between port wine and Madeira is that Madeira wine is deliberately over heated to give it its special, caramelized tang. Madeira wine is found in different tastes and styles and ranges from fully sweet wines to fully dry wines.

The cheaper variety of Madeira wine is made from Tinta Negar Mole grape which is considered to be the workhorse variety of Madeira that arose after the phylloxera epidemic. This grape is found in different concentrations in different blends and vintage wines.

However the best Madeira wines are created from one of 4 noble grapes. This is why there are four types of Madeira wines; Malaysia, Bual, Verdelho and Sercial. Of the four, the latter two wines are drier than the first two wines. Madeira wine is made at different levels; mainly Reserve, Special Reserve and Exceptional Reserve levels which are aged 5, 10 and 15 years in oak respectively.

There are many famous table wines of Portugal which are available for as low as 6 pounds a bottle and are really worth a try. The sunny southeast of Portugal in Alentejo and Ribetejo produce flavorsome wines that range from soft to serious wines. These wines are available as red and white wine and are both worth trying.

Vinho Verde is the name of both the wine and the region it is produced in. it is available as both red and white wines where the white wines are exported in various volumes. Vinho Verde is a young wine that is not meant for cellaring and can be acidic at times. The best wines are however spritzy, lemony and appetizing.