While France may appear to be the indefatigable heart of wine production throughout the world, for those in the know Portugal is a veritable little treasure trove of delectable bouquets and flavours. In fact so important is wine to the Portuguese that they were ahead of the French by 200 years when introducing the appellation system to guarantee superior wine quality. Around 8 percent of land in Portugal is giving over to vineyards and with its' rich history, lush vegetation and temperate weather this beautiful little country on the southern tip of Europe can offer connoisseurs a delightful escape from the everyday routine, while delving into a full-hearted taste exploration.
The best way to uncover this Bacchus land of opportunity is to do a fly-drive to Lisbon Airport. Flights to Lisbon, the capital, are available from several UK airports including Gatwick, Heathrow and Liverpool. Once there a Lisbon Airport car hire is all that is necessary to get the adventure under way. For those keen to get started, the first port of call from Lisbon should be Colares situated 43 km and a 42 minute drive west within the municipality of Sintra, where one of the most expensive Portuguese wines is found. On the edges of this UNESCO World Heritage Site full of enchanting, romantic architecture, the soils are sandy and from here the wine develops a taste of nuts and berries.
To find some of Portugal??s most popular wine exports though it is essential to travel north. Almost 460km and a 4 hour drive away is Minho. This is the birthplace of the famous vinho verde wine which is known for its diuretic and digestible virtues as well as its light, refreshing taste. Unlike many kinds of wines, vinho verde is not required to be aged as it is made from grapes which are low in sugar content and it is best served at low temperatures. The locale of Minho itself is provincial and green and offers an ideal space for a romantic retreat.
Journey on north from Minho a further 280km, with a travel time of approximately 3 hours, and you arrive at the mesmerising Douro Valley. Here the soil is rich in schist and the climate perfect for growing the vines that create the region??s speciality: port wine. This fortified wine is produced in the world??s oldest demarcated wine area and although many countries around the world now supply similar desert wines, European Guidelines state that only those from Portugal may be labelled as port. It takes its' name from the city Porto from which it was, and still is exported from. Porto is situated at the head of the Portuguese section of the Douro River and affords spectacular views of the terraces upon terraces of vines which roll down to meet it.
There are other notable tipples to be discovered in the rest of the country as well. Literally spitting distance from the capital there is the Setubal Peninsula from where the Moscatel wine comes. Derived from the sugary, floral aroma of the Muscat grapes it usually comes as a sweet fortified wine. A little further afield is Alentejo, located 260km or a 2.5 hours trip south of Lisbon, which produces high quality wines with great fruity notes. Along with vinho verde, Alentejo wines are the preferred favourite for native consumption.wine making and bee keeping
wine making and bee keeping
Michelle Elkins is a regular contributor to the Lisbon Airport Guide which provides all information about Lisbon Airport, including the best rates on Lisbon Airport Car Hire and help to find the cheapest Flights to Lisbon. wine making and bee keeping: wine making and bee keeping
wine making and bee keeping: wine making and bee keeping
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