With its warm climate and proximity to ocean breezes, Portugal is ideally suited for the cultivation of grapes and although the country has been producing wine for centuries, it is only recently that the rest of the world has started to notice. Located on the western edge of the Iberian peninsula, Portugal is less known for the contents of a wine bottle than for the cork that seals it. Approximately 30% of the oak trees used for sourcing wine corks are found here. After cork, Port is another product of the country that has enjoyed larger acclaim than still wine, but finally the tide is turning.
The History of Portuguese Wine
As early as the 12th century, Portugal was exporting wine to Great Britain, but as with most of the rest of Europe, the vineyards were destroyed by the infestation of Phylloxera in the mid 19th century and several regions never recovered. However in 1937, under the command of Prime Minister Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, the industry was boosted by the construction of over 100 winery cooperatives. It seemed the country was back on track to making decent wine until a military-led revolution occurred in 1974 and plunged the country back into devastation. The defining moment came in 1986 when Portugal became part of the European Union and great investment was made to update the long suffering wine industry.
It was in 1987 that the winery Herdade do Esporão, located in the Alentejo region, reclaimed its vineyards planted in 1973 and was also able to break out of the contract with a cooperative and begin focusing on producing wine from the 450 hectares of vineyard it owned. The first years proved tough going, but at the beginning of the 1990’s, the Alentejo region was classified DOC and in 1992, David Baverstock, an Australian native, took the reins as winemaker and today Herdade do Esporão is one of the most highly recognized and acclaimed wineries in the country.
Herdade do Esporão
Along with Portugal’s turbulent history, the country also possesses the most unusual and unknown indigenous grape varieties of any other region. The main red grape is Touriga Nacional, closely followed by Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo in the Douro and Spain, and Aragónez in Alentejo); as for whites Loureiro, Alvarinho, Bical and Arinto are some of the most promising.
The family of wines produced by Herdade do Esporão under the watchful eye and careful hand of Baverstock, showcases several ranges, each with a distinctive character. The Monte Velho red and white are blends of native grapes that have become the most popular choice among the local residents. The single varietals, Alicante Bouschet, Trincadeira, Aragonés and Syrah are representative the region’s terroir and characteristics. The top-end wines of the range are the Esporão Private Selection that serve to showcase the complexity, balance and structure achievable in Portuguese wines.
Discover the mysteries of the wines from Portugal with the hallmarks from Herdade do Esporão.
