Lisboa (Portugal)
MAY 2024
This month's wine club features a red & a white from the winelands around Portugal's capital of Lisbon or Lisboa in Portuguese. With a population of approximately 550,000, Lisbon is the westernmost capital city on the European continent and is the second oldest after Athens.
Grapes have been cultivated in this area since the Roman occupation. The Lisboa wine region (formerly known as Estremadura but changed in 2009 to benefit from the name recognition of the capital city) is made up of nine appellations which form a crescent around Lisbon. The vineyards near the coast have hot summers and cool, wet winters with a lot of wind from the Atlantic Ocean. The appellations more inland are protected from the winds by the Serra de Montejunto hills, creating different microclimates.
The majority of wine production in Lisboa is through large co-ops which provides good economies of scale. Your red blend is from a co-op. Your white wine (made from the local grape Arinto) is from a family farm in Alenquer. All wines from the appellations in Lisboa are classified as Vinho Regional (VR), a table wine designation similar to a Vin de Pays in France.
Quinta de Chocapalha
Located in the appellation of Alenquer, about 50 minutes north of Lisbon, Paulo & Alice Tavares da Silva bought the 70-hectare farm (of which 46 hectares are vineyards) in the 1980's. The property is in the rolling hills of the Serra de Montejunto mountain range. The soils are clay-limestone dating back to the Jurassic period, and the vineyards enjoy a fresh sea breeze from the Atlantic. Summer temperatures are in the mid- to upper 80's. Winter temperatures range between 45-55 degrees.
The Tavares family grows white varieties: Arinto, Viosinho, Gouveio, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and red varieties: Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Castelão, Syrah, Touriga Franca, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.
Paulo & Alice's daughter, Sandra, took over as winemaker in 2000. Family is pictured above from left to right: Sandra, Alice, Paulo, and Andrea, who is also involved in the management of the estate.
Quinta de Chocapalha 2020 Arinto
Lisboa, Portugal // Reg $17.99 | Mixed Case $14.39
100% Arinto. Old vines, up to 80 years old. Fresh aromas of lemon rind, citrus & grass. Acidity is crisp. Lighter in body. Flavors of lemon, yellow grapefruit with a long, bone-dry finish. Wonderful oyster wine. In Lisbon, you'd enjoy this wine with fried sardines fresh from the market. The acidity would be perfect to cut the richness of the fried fish. 30-60 min open if possible. Flavors really open up. Drink now to 2 years.
Casal Garcia
Casal Garcia is a huge co-op that started 80 years ago making Vinho Verde in northwestern Portugal (border to Spain). The Vinho Tinto in your club is newly available in Seattle and is a spectacular value from the vineyards around Lisbon.
Casal Garcia 2021 Vinho Tinto
Lisboa, Portugal // Reg $11.99 | Mixed Case $9.59
Blend of Laureiro, Trajodura, Touriga Nacional, Amaral. 70% of the batch was aged for 6 months in French oak barrels, the remaining 30% stayed in stainless steel vats. Alcohol = 13% which is notably low these days and perfect for summer!
Fruity nose of raspberry and red & black fruit compote with a hint of herbs. Nice, complex nose for an inexpensive wine. Black cherries, blackberries, dark plums, blood orange on the flavors. Fresh, round, delicate. Smooth tannins on the slightly spicy finish. Drink now to 2 years. Enjoy with burgers, pizza, tapas, fish.... whatever suits you. Absolutely great wine for the money.
Wines from Lisboa are still sparse in Seattle, but keep your eyes open. With increased travel to Portugal, demand is good. And the wines are great value & perfect for summer!
Cheers,
Jens Strecker, Owner
Portalis Wine Shop