A delightful experience

There are 14 distinct wine regions in Portugal, each of which is unique in terroir, varietals and history. During my visit to Portugal, I had the good fortune to visit wineries in the Algarve, Atlántico and Lisboa regions.

I had the opportunity to taste wines from “the most western winery in Europe,” which had actually planted some vines in Atlantic beach sand. And while Portugal did not escape the 19th century European phylloxera epidemic, grapes buried in this sandy terrain were unaffected by the phylloxera louse. This stock saved traditional Portuguese vines for the replanting that followed this epidemic—when French varietals were also introduced to further the range and appeal of wines from Portugal.

Increasing the market for Portuguese wines has suffered outrageous fortune, nevertheless. Under Napoleon, the wines of the Douro Valley were entirely expropriated by the French. It wasn’t until the liberation of Portugal and Spain that commerce could resume with its best market, Great Britain. Unfortunately, returning soldiers had, during the Peninsular Campaign, developed a taste for Spanish sherries, chocolate, coffee, teas and beer—and Portuguese market share suffered accordingly. Seeking new markets for its wine, Portugal found a ready market in Brazil. (Douro Valley wine producers commanded a stranglehold on this new market, to the detriment of the other Portuguese wine regions.) When Brazil became independent of Portugal in 1822, this left only their African and Asian colonies as overseas markets. And even though Britain remained a strong market, a period of stagnation followed for the Portuguese wine industry.

It is delightful to travel and experience different wines and cultures—to see how they have dealt with adversity and gained worldwide recognition.

It is important to learn from their experience, and to never forget we are blessed to live in a unique wine region that has so many talented wine producers.