Wines of Portugal 2016 (held in Singapore)

As in recent years, the ‘Wines of Portugal’ wine event came to town this year as well. Unlike previous years though, this time round, it’s activities were held over 3 days; and this year's event was locally organized by Sopexa.

You don’t often hear of tailored wine classes or appreciation workshops held in Singapore specifically for Portuguese wines. Knowledge on Portuguese wines is usually acquired by and large by wine professionals and local wine merchants if they opt to pursue locally offered wine courses like WSET, CSW or CMS programs (in which wines from Portugal fare as a component to learn).

The ‘Wines of Portugal’ event therefore stand out as an important avenue for local wine merchants and professionals to get a quick snapshot on the current state of the wine industry in Portugal, meet wine producers and get first hand appreciation of its wines.

I took the opportunity to take pictures of this event; if you are keen on them, you can view them via these links:

Masterclass photo album

Dinner photo album

Grand Tasting photo album

The Masterclass

Edwin Soon, a well respected wine writer and educator in this little Red Dot of ours, was the speaker for the Masterclass. Slightly over 50 participants attended this session which was held at Casuarina Suite in Raffles Hotel. One who has travelled to Portugal before, Edwin shared on his personal experiences as well as information on Portugal in relation to the global wine scene, wine classifications governing Portuguese wines, the climate and terroir of respective wine regions within Portugal and details on notable indigenous grape varietals found in Portugal.

Apart from the well known Vinho Verde, Dao, Alentejo, Duoro and Madiera wine regions; participants had the opportunity to learn about other regions like Peninsula Setubal, Lisboa, Tras os Montes, Tavota-Varosa and Tejo (to name a few) as well.

Eight wines were tasted during this Masterclass:
2015 Aveleda, Quinta da Aveleda Alvarinho E Loureiro
2015 Casa da Passarella, Somontes Colheita Branco
Jose Maria da Fonseca, Two Rivers, Alcohol Free
2013 Vidigal Wines, Porta 6
2013 Casa Agricola Alexandre Relvas, Herdade da Pimenta
2011 Quinta dos Avidagos, Lenuma
2010 JMF, Alambre Moscatel de Setubal
2013 Lemos & Vanzeller, Quinta Vale D. Maria Reserva Lote 13

These wines offered participants some perspective on the different wine styles and characteristics found in wines from different regions of Portugal.

The Dinner

Dinner was held on 13 July at True Blue Cuisine at 49 Armenian Street. Guests comprised of several wine producers, local wine merchants and industry professionals. The theme was Peranakan cuisine paired with Portuguese wines.

Edwin Soon was at hand to talk about early Portuguese presence in South East Asia, the influence of spices on Portuguese cuisine and the development of Peranakan cuisine. A little twist to this dinner was that the wines accompanying each course were served blind. The guests were than invited to try the food with different wines and rate which they preferred as an ideal match. Results were consolidated and the preferred wines received awards of recognition. This exercise offered guests a quick appreciation of how Portuguese wines can be matched with Peranakan cuisine.

The wines served during dinner were:
Mateus Rose Original
2015 Dona Ermelinda (white)
2015 Tapada dos Monges Loureiro (white)
2015 Vinhas Do Lasso, Colheita Selecionada (white)
2013 HO Colheita (red)
2013 Esporao Reserva (red)
2011 Lenuma Limited Edition (red)
2013 Dona Ermelinda Reserva (red)
Blandy’s Bual (5 years old) (Fortified)
Sandeman Porto Tawny (Fortified)

The Grand Tasting

24 wine producers showcased their wines during the Grand tasting (which was held at the Ballroom, Raffles Hotel on 14 July). These producers came from 7 of Portugal’s wine regions: Lisboa (2), Several (6), Alentejo (4), Dao (3), Peninsula de Setubal (1), Porto & Douro (6) and Vinho Verde (2).

Wine producers and winery representatives were at hand to share with local attendees more about their respective wineries and wines. There was a good range of wine styles, single varietals as well as blends offered during this tasting event.

There were ‘easy to drink and ready to consume’ whites with slight effervescence offered by produecrs like Aveleda (Casal Garcia Branco) and Vinhos Norte (Tapada dos Monges Lourero 2015). There was serious sparkling wine as well like the Casa Ermelinda Freitas Espumante Reserva 2011 (barrel fermented, batonnage influenced and barrel aged); it certainly showed noticeable depth, complexity and presence.

Avelada’s Quinta da Aveleda Vinho Verde 2015 showed more than freshness due to lees aging; and Vinhas Do Lasso, Colheita Selecionada 2015 offered a white wine noticeable for structure and weight.

Both whites and reds by and large came as blends. It showed the wine producers preference to bring together the strengths of different grape varietals to produce their preferred wines.

There were a few exceptions of monovarietal wines though; like Aveleda Alvatindo 2015, Quinta Vale dÁldeia Alvarinho 2015, Horta Osorio Touriga National 2012 and Quinta Das Maias Jaen 2013.

A pleasant discovery among the reds were those from 'old vines'. Here different grape varietals are grown together in a specific plot. Then the grapes are harvested and fermented together to produce a red wine. Quinta Vale D. Maria Douro 2013 (old vines) came from a plot planted with 41 grape varietals. Another example are red wines from Quinta Dos Avidagos which showcased Quinta dos Avidagos Vinhas Velhas 2012 and Qunita dos Avidagos Vinha do Alem Tanha 2013 (both from produced from old vines).

For fortified wines, Casa Ermelinda Freitas Moscatel Roxo de Setubal Superior 2009 and Mouchao's vinho Licoroso 2009 stood out.

Certainly an educational wine event, I must say.

ProWine Asia 2016 and some wines from Portugal

I came across 2 interesting wine companies from Portugal during this ProWine Asia. One was Read Companhia Velha and the other Chateau dÓr.

Real Companhia Velha 

Real Companhia Velha had some history to offer. It was founded by King D. Jose I in 1756. Ms Dora Esteves Martins, who was at this booth, shared that this is the 'oldest Port wine company' in Portugal and has over the years greatly contributed to the development of the port wine industry.

Ms Dora Esteves Martins and friends

This company currently owns some of the best Quintas located in the Douro region (Quinta das Carvalhas, Quinta de Cidro, Quinta dos Aciprestes and Quinta do Casal da Granja to name a few).

Still wines (from Quinta de Cidro, Delaforce and Porca de Murca) as well as ports of varied styles (ruby, tawny, colheita, vntage and LBVs) were showcased during this trade show.

Previously one challenge I faced in appreciating Portuguese reds is the number of varietals which some producers generously include into a particular blend (it certainly can be one too many); and the lack of familiarity with these varietal names often added to this challenge. Such an endeavour could be perfectly justifiable from the perspective of a wine producer who appreciates what each varietal contributes and thus arrives at a composition which comes together to make a good wine in the glass; but still a challenge I must say to an overseas wine consumer trying to discover wines from Portugal.

Quinta de Cidro wines

It was therefore pleasing to see wines like Quinta de Cidro’s well made monovarietal Touriga Nacional; and another red, a blend of Touriga Nacional and Cabernet Sauvignon. Both reflected good quality, smooth texture and an elegant personality. These wines come from the Sao Joao da Pesqueira wine area in Douro.

Royal Oporto port wines

The Royal Oporto ports, apart from showing complexity and enjoyable constitution, came in well designed wine bottles which captured the attention of event participants and tempted them to stop at this booth for more information.

Chateau dÓr

It would be reasonable to say Chateau dÓr  stood out amidst the alcohol supported liquid wares offered by other booths during this event. This wine company chose to offer 'alcohol free' wines.

‘Why?’ was the question which went through my mind when I chanced upon this booth. The company representative explained that in markets where alcoholic beverages face challenges in terms of pricing, tax or cultural issues, ‘alcohol free’ wines offer an alternate option .



Chateau DÓr Red

The red alcohol free wine is produced using Merlot; while Chardonnay is used to produce a white. It sees a growing demand in some parts of the world for its alcohol free wines and intends to pursue these markets.

Wine tasting: Wines from Portugal at Geylang Serai CC

Last Saturday I went to Geylang Serai Community Club for a seated tasting of wines from Portugal. This CC has a newly setup wine club which organized this tasting.

We tasted 7 wines during this afternoon session. They are from Viva Vino (address: 214 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore 207747, Tel: 62917866, www.vivavino.com.sg), a wine company which specializes in importing wines from Portugal. Mr Nuno Miguel Covas, the marketing and sales consultant of this firm, introduced the wines to us.

We tasted 3 whites, 3 reds and a port. They are:

2010 Aveleda Casal Garcia Branco, Vinho Verde. A 'green wine' (wine known for its freshness and made to be drunk preferably within a year); is light, clean, refreshing and an easy one to sip.  It shows a little fizziness in the palate (due to the presence of carbon dioxide) within its body, which lends a hand to this wine's freshness. It is light bodied, almost like having chilled water with a little alcohol in it :) It will be great for a hot afternoon, as an aperitif or as an accompaniment to starters. A participant remarked that it reminds her of soda :)

2009 Quinta d'Aveleda Vinho Verde. Another 'green wine' but with a more expressive body than the earlier white, this too reveals lightness, freshness, delicate fruit aromas and flavours. It can be enjoyed on its own or with some light bodied food. This too reveals a little fizziness when sipped.

2009 Esporao Reserva. A white from Alentejo, it reveals aromatic notes of tangerine, peach, lime and a hint of oak. The aging in oak has given it a firmer structure than the above 2 whites, which balances with the fruit flavours in the body and the refreshing acidity in holds. A well balanced wine with a lingering finish. One can enjoy this on its own, though I will prefer some food with this.

2007 Quinta do Casal Branco. An easy, entry level red from the Ribatejo region. Shows a light to medium body, reveals aromas and flavours of red and black fruits, and spicy notes though without much depth to its body. Alcohol 'heat' and spice shows in the finish; and I think slightly chilling this red will create a better balance in palate. Some light food will help in making the sips pleasurable.

 

2004 Alves de Sousa Caldas Reserva. This is a good red from the Douro region. The floral notes give way to reveal aromatic notes of dark cherry, tobacco and spice. The supple body reveals a good measure of fruit flavours, spice, soft and integrated tannins, and ample acidity to create a well balanced wine with lingering finish.

2007 JP Ramos Vila Santa. A red from the Alentejano region. This is a which at this moment shows harmony. Aromas of black fruits and spice balances well with the dark cherry flavours and spice revealed in the body. The texture is velvety and smooth with soft and integrated tannins lending it support. It will go great with meat dishes, though I am tempted to enjoy this with just bread and cheese (so that i can fully enjoy the wine without its harmony being affected by some strong flavoured food dish).

1998 Niepoort Colheita port. A single vintage port, the years of aging has gone to reveal a drink with pleasant dried fruits aromas and flavours. Medium bodied, smooth and with a lingering finish, one can enjoy sipping this on its own, or with some cheese, chicken or goose liver and biscuits as accompaniments.

The affable Nuno made this session an enjoyable one. All in all, it was a well spent session catching up on wines from Portugal :)