Idea Lab

Portugal’s Lisboa Blends Sun and Sea for Great Flavors.

If you’re looking to discover a wine region, Lisboa is it. Not that it wasn’t known as Portugal’s go-to wine center by the Romans, Visigoths, Cistercians and Europe’s royals. But that was then. Lisboa is now.

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QUINTA DE PANCAS. PANCAS TERROIR AND TEMPERATE CLIMATE ARE PERFECT FOR TASTING ON THE TERRACE.

Lisboa’s wines are Southern Europe’s Gulf Stream wines poised between the cool air and strong winds of the Atlantic coast and the heat of inland Portugal. Formed by misty morning fog and hot afternoons, these are the fruitiest wines of Portugal—bright and juicy. Add in terrific value with many Best Buys and you have a winning taste.

Lisboa has everything a wine explorer could want. An easy 30 to 45 minutes north of Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, you’ll find beautiful vineyards, amazing beaches—some of the best surfing in the world–and mountains. Plus, there is enough history, art, geology, paleontology and golf to satisfy any whim.

New generations of old wine families and Napa-like entrepreneurs are determined to add Lisboa to the top wine destination-and-drinking map.

The focus on quality achieved by reviving and replanting vineyards, adopting new winemaking techniques and by being serious about tourism confirms their intense belief in the future of the Lisboa region.

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LISBON FAMILY VINEYARDS. MONTE D’OIRO FAVORS SYRAH FOR ITS RHÔNE-INSPIRED BLENDS.
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CASA SANTOS LIMA. SANTOS LIMA IS LISBOA’S LARGEST PRODUCER.
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ADEGA MÃE. ADEGA MÃE’S 100-YEAR-OLD COD DORY TAKES PRIDE OF PLACE INNEW WINERY.

Taste the Blend.

The Portuguese—especially in the Lisboa wine region—are masters at blending several grape varieties from a single vintage to produce delicious wines. The target is a premium blend.

“We get a lot of visitors from the States and people are astonished that we have so many varieties and that we blend…a lot,” said Chocapalha’s Alice Tavares da Silva whose daughter, Sandra, is the winemaker.

This is repeated at every winery from DFJ Vinhos where José Neiva Correia is known across continents as the “master blender,” to Casa Santos Lima, the largest producer in Lisboa, to mid-size wineries such as Adega Mãe, Pancas, Sanguinhal and Gradil and boutiques including Ramilo, Vale da Mata, Sant’Ana, Monte d’Oiro, Chocapalha and Manz Wines.

You will find blends of solely Portuguese native varieties (such as Arinto, Touriga Nacional or Castelão…there are more than 250) or blends that combine Portuguese and international varieties (such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah). Rosé and sparkling wines are blends.

“Branco” (Portuguese White) or “Tinto” (Portuguese Red) identify these blended wines on the label. Wine with one grape name on the label, Portuguese or international, must have at least 85 percent of that grape.

Why blend? It’s so the taste is always great. Every grape responds differently to the ocean, weather and varied limestone and clay soils. Lisboa’s windy and sometimes humid vineyards are planted on mountain slopes and valleys parallel to the coast. Winemakers worldwide dream of Lisboa’s blending expertise—many from California and France stop by.

The wines are excellent to drink on their own and make easy pairing choices with meat, fish, seafood and cheese dishes.

The best way to discover Portuguese wine? Taste, Lisboa style.

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COMPANHIA AGRÍCOLA DO SANGUINHAL. SANGUINHAL FOOTHILL VINEYARDS GIVE ARINTO GRAPES GREAT BLENDING POWER.
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QUINTA DE PANCAS. UNGRAFTED RAMISCO GRAPES GROW IN COLARES SAND DUNES–CONTINENTAL EUROPE’S WESTERNMOST VINEYARDS..
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MANZ WINE. MANZ VINEYARD FOSSILS WERE ONCE THE ATLANTIC OCEAN FLOOR.

Visit Lisbon. Taste Lisboa.

ALENQUER

East and south of Montejunto mountains

ENCOSTAS D’AIRE

Coastal limestone hills, northern edge of Lisboa region

ÓBIDOS

Near Peniche peninsula, west of Candeeiros mountains

  • Companhia Agrícola do Sanguinhal. Carlos João Pereira da Fonseca and family. vinhos-sanguinhal.pt
  • Quinta do Gradil. Luis Vieira, Parras Wines. parras.pt
TORRES VEDRAS

    Historic central region, close to golf, beaches

  • Adega Mãe. Bernado Alves, Riberalves Group. adegamae.pt
MAFRA

Close to Lisbon and Ericeira World Surf Reserve

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