Wow Portugeezers
What? Annual Tasting of Portuguese Wines
Where? Vinopolis, London SE1 9BU
When? 10.30am to 5.30pm,
Tuesday 14 March
Contact: filipe.neves@icep.pt; tel: 020 7201 6666
SEMINARS
There is a full programme of seminars spread throughout the day focusing on the country's indigenous grapes and also offering advice for on- and off-trade professionals.
10am
Does Portugal warrant more listings in the UK?
Trade figures debate whether Portuguese wines should have a greater presence on retail shelves, restaurant tables and bar backs.
12.30pm and 2.30pm
Explore Portugal's unique varieties
Wines of Portugal's London representative, Felipe Neves, leads this tutored tasting, which profiles many of Portugal's leading indigenous grapes and includes the chance for attendees to make their own blend.
4pm
How can Portugal make your wine list more profitable?
Restaurant wine list consultant Peter McCombie MW gives the lowdown on how to incorporate Portugal into a restaurant list, adding interest and profit in the process.
Agents and producers
Adega Cooperativa de Redondo, Table 2
From: Alentejo
On show: New Longitude range: Longitude White and Longitude Red
Key fact: The co-operative has invested 6 million Euro in equipment and brand building in the past few years
UK agent: Oakhouse Wines
Amorim, Table 5
From: Douro
On show: Full portfolio of table wines and Ports from Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo
Key fact: Quinta Nova has 85ha of class A vineyards which run alongside 1.5km of the north bank of the Douro river, in the heart of the valley
UK agent: Amorim UK
Quinta de Ventozelo, Table 4
From: Douro
On show: Full range of Ports and table wine marketed under the quinta's own name
Key fact: The estate has 250ha of vineyard perched above the Douro Valley and has been turned around in the five years since it was purchased by a Spanish fish merchant
UK agent: Alliance Wines
Associao de Adegas - Vinhos de Portugal, Table 6
From: A group of wineries from Ribatejo and Estramadura
On show: Wines for all price ranges
Key fact: The Association aims to bring the best from all of its producers and offer economies of scale for each of its members in terms of distribution and marketing
Bacalhoa Vinhos de Portugal, Table 9/10
From: Setbal, Estremadura and Alentejo
On show: New wine Dogma, intensely flavoured soft dark red' from Alentejo; the new 2003 vintage of Tinta da Anfora Grande Escolha and Tinta da Anfora
Key fact: Bacalhoa has a production capacity of 12 million litres, an ageing potential of 6,000 barrels, and some 500ha of vineyards
UK agent: Ehrmanns
Peter Bright, Table 9/10
From: Alentejo
On show: Bright Pink, a ros range extension to the Bright range that already features a red and a white; new Fado red and white
UK agent: Ehrmanns
Caves Aliana, Table 12
From: Bairrada, Do, Douro, Alentejo, Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo
On show: A diverse range, including Casal Mendes ros and impressive' reds, made with Michel Rolland and Pascal Chatonnet
Key fact: Family-owned company, based in Bairrada with 600ha of vineyard spread through five regions
UK agent: Boutinot
Casa Leal, Table 15
From: UK agent; wines from across Portugal
On show: Latest wines and vintages from Herdade do Pinheiro (Alentejo), Alvarinho Capitao-Mor (Monao); Damasceno; sparkling wines from Bairrada
Key fact: Casa Leal specialises in premium Portuguese wines from all regions. It seeks out novel, exciting wines, from both new and established wine makers
Casa Santos Lima, Companhia das Vinhas, Table 16
From: Estramadura
On show: Palha-Canas, Quinta da Espiga, Quinta de Bons-Ventos, Quinta das Setencostas, Portuga, Quinta do Vale Perdido, Quinta das Amoras, Eximius, Touriz and CSL
Key fact: Family-owned company with 280ha planted to native and international varieties; exports to 30 countries
Quinta do Portal, Table 18
From: Douro
On show: Ports and table wines including 2004 IWC Portuguese Red Trophy winner
Key fact: The Branco family own 150ha of vineyards on terraces of schistous granite at 500m. Wines are made by Paulo Coutinho with Pascal Chatonnet as consultant
UK agent: Charles Hawkins & Partners
Churchill Graham, Table 19
From: Douro
On show: Latest vintages of single-estate Quinta da Gricha and Churchill Estates reds
Key fact: Famous for Port, the company has been developing a table wine project since the acquisition of new vineyards in 1999
UK agent: Christopher Piper
Cortes de Cima, Table 21
From: Alentejo
On show: 2004 Charmin; 2002 Cortes de Cima; 2003 Cortes de Cima Reserva
Key fact: Cortes de Cima is run by Danish-American couple, Hans and Carrie Jorgensen
Quinta da Esperana, Table 22
From: Estremoz
On show: Latest vintages of Encostas de Estremoz; the new Encostas de Estremoz Reserva; and 2002 Terras de Estremoz
Key fact: A focus on native grapes such as Touriga Nacional, Arragonez and Trincadeira
UK agent: Discover Portugal
Quinta da Cortezia, Table 22
From: Estramadura
On show: Latest vintages of wines made entirely from family-owned vineyards
Key fact: Since 1990 the 70ha vineyard (80% red and 20% white) has been replanted
UK agent: Discover Portugal
Domingos Alves de Sousa/Quinta da Gaivosa, Table 24
From: Douro
On show: Full range of Douro table wines
Key fact: Domingos Alves de Sousa was a civil engineer until he took control of the family's quintas. The company was the 1999 Producer of the Year, in Revista de Vinhos
Enoforum - Comrcio e Exportao de Vinhos, Table 25
From: Alentejo
On show: Latest wines from each of the wineries making up this export association: Adega de Borba, Cooperativa de Granja, Adega de Portalegre, Adega de Redondo, CARMIM and Adega de Vidigueira. Plus group brands such as Alentex Premium, Alentex, Porta do Castelo and Real Forte
Key fact: The six companies jointly own 12,000ha of vineyards, producing 70% of Alentejo's wine production
Fiuza & Bright, Table 26
From: Ribatejo
On show: wines featuring Portuguese grapes: Campo dos Frades, Quinta da Azambuja and Quinta da Requeixada; wines featuring international grapes: Quinta da Granja
Key fact: Joaquim Mascarenhas Fiuza and Aussie winemaker Peter Bright join forces
Francisco B. Fino - Sociedade Agrcola, Lda, Table 27
From: Alentejo
On show: Wines made from Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet, Aragons, Moreto, Ferno Pires, Roupeiro, Arinto and Trincadeira das Prates
Key fact: The Baptista Fino family has been involved in high quality wines for centuries since Joaquim da Cruz Baptista founded the Tapada do Chaves winery
FWW Wines (UK) Ltd, Table 28
From: UK agent representing producers from across Portugal
On show: The full Portuguese portfolio
Key fact: Lance Foyster MW began working with Portuguese wines in 1985 hand selling distinctive wines that represent the best of Portugal's rich wine heritage with some traditional "rough edges" smoothed away'
Santo Isidro de Peges, Table 29
From: Peges
On show: A co-op specialising in wines made from the indigenous Castelao grape
Key fact: Founded in 1958, the 900ha are owned by hundreds of small farmers
UK agent: Hallgarten
Jose Maria da Fonseca, Table 30
From: Douro, Alentejo and Terra do Sado
On show: Newly repackaged Lancers Ros; 2001 and 1995 Periquita Classico; latest vintage of FSF
Key fact: Jose Maria da Fonseca has earned Wine of the Week status from Jancis Robinson for Periquita Classico and FSF was one of Tim Atkin's Top 50 Portuguese wines
UK agent: Harvey Miller Wine & Spirit Agencies
Casal Branco Sociedade de Vinhos, Table 31
From: Ribatejo
On show: Full range of wines
Key fact: Quinta do Casal Branco is a producer of maize, melons, tomatoes, forestry, cattle and pure-bred Lusitano horses, as well as having a 130ha vineyard, much of which has been recently replanted
Falua - Socied, Table 32
From: Ribatejo
On show: Tagus Creek brand, including the the 2005 vintage with Sam Harrop first direct involvement. Plus the new ros - a blend of Shiraz and Touriga Nacional
Key fact: Owned by Joao Portugal Ramos, Falua is a new, export-driven winery
UK agent: Oakley Wine Agencies
J. Portugal Vinhos, Table 33
From: Alentejo
On show: New vintages from Vila Santa, Marqus de Borba and Marqus de Borba Reserva; plus latest single varietals under the Joo Portugal Ramos label and the Loios and Quinta da Viosa blends
Key fact: Joo Portugal Ramos began planting his own vineyards around Monte da Caldeira in 1990
UK agent: Oakley Wine Agencies
Esporo, Table 34
From: Alentejo
On show: the full portfolio
Key fact: Australian winemaker, David Baverstock will be on hand to talk tasters through the wines of one of the Alentejo's largest and oldest wine estates
UK agent: John E Fells & Son
Symingtons/Chryseia, Table 34
From: Douro
On show: Latest vintages of Chryseia, the joint venture between the Symington Family and leading Bordeaux winemaker Bruno Prats; and Altano, the Symingtons' more accessibly priced Douro table wines
Key fact: The Symingtons have been producing Port since 1882 and own some of the finest Port houses: Warre, Dow, Graham and Quinta do Vesuvio. Prats is the former owner of Chteau Cos d'Estournel who continues to produce wine in Chile
UK agent: John E Fells & Son
Azamor Wines, Table 36
From: Alentejo
On show: Boutique wines from the Luiz Gomes family's 27ha estate
Key fact: The densely planted Azamor vineyards are located in the upper Alentejo, not far from Estremoz
Quinta do Tedo, Table 38
From: Douro
On show: 2003 and 2004 Escda d'Oro
Key fact: Winemaker Vincent Bouchard hails from Burgundy and has also made wine in California
UK agent: McKinley Vintners
Marcolino Incio Chicharo Sebo, Table 38
From: Alentejo
On show: A full range from the company's 130ha of vineyard
Key fact: Owner Marcolino Sebo was a supplier of grapes for 20 years before turning his hand to wine production in 2000
Ockse Wines, Table 39
From: UK agent for Portuguese producers
On show: Carlos Campolargo's Pinot Noir/Baga blend, barrel-fermented 2004 Arinto and 2004 white Bical; Herdade Grande's 2002 Colheita Seleccionada
Key fact: Campolargo is a producer of
high-end boutique wines in the Alentejo
Portugalia Wines, Table 41
From: UK agent for Portuguese producers
On show: New range of Alentejo wines from Herdade da Pestana near Estremoz featuring the Monte das Oliveiras and Pao Real, and Monte da Pestana red and white as well as Quinta da Tapada's Portal do Carregal Vinho Verde. Plus established Portugalia wines Caves do Solar de So Domingos, Caves Velhas, Quinta do Silval, Caves do Casalinho and the Cartaxo Cooperative
Quality Estates Portugal, Table 42
From: Five Portuguese regions
On show: Full portfolios from the five member estates
Key fact: Family producers committed to pioneering the best of new Portugal
Quinta de Sequeira (Mrio Jorge Eugnio Monteiro Cardoso), Table 43
From: Douro
On show: Latest vintages of the estate red
Key fact: Quinta de Sequeira has been in the same family for six generations, producing, but not bottling, Port wine since 1899. Since 2001, the company has devoted itself to table wines
Raymond Reynolds, Table 46
From: UK supplier of Portuguese wines
On show: new vintages from Franqueira (Branco 2005), Quinta da Murta (Branco 2005), Casa de Saima (Rose 2005), Quinta do Coa (Tinto 2004), Quinta dos Roques (Reserva 2003) and Niepoort Redoma (Tinto 2002) as well as an unoaked Touriga National from Quinta da Murta
Key fact: Rui Madeira will be on hand to show latest releases from his family's organic CARM estates in the Douro
Real Companhia Velha, Table 47
From: Douro
On show: The full range from each of the company's quintas
Key fact: The company is one of Portugal's leading producers and the largest owner of premium land in the Douro Valley
UK agent: PLB
Sociedade Agrcola Encosta do Guadiana, Table 50
From: Alentejo
On show: The full range from this newcomer in the southern Alentejo
Key fact: The company has been upgrading facilities over the past three years, moving away from cereals, to producing high quality goods such as wine and olive oil
Sogrape Vinhos, Table 53
From: Regions across Portugal
On show: Wines including Callabriga, based on Tinta Roriz, blended with more regionally specific grapes from the Douro (Touriga Nacional and Touriga Francesa) and the Alentejo (Alfrocheiro and Alicante Bouschet)
Key fact: Sogrape was founded in 1942 by Fernando van Zeller Guedes, and is seen as one of the most important players in the creation of today's Portuguese wine industry
UK agent: Stevens Garnier
Unio das Agegas Cooperativas do Do, Table 55
From: Do
On show: A portfolio of wines that make up this union of producers, including Porta do Fontelo, Irreverente and Adro da S
Key fact: Founded in 1966, the union represents 10 cellars in the Do and produces 60% of the total DOC Do wines
Caves Trasmontanas, Table 58
From: Douro
On show: Range of table wines
Key fact: The company's vineyards were chosen in 1999, after a detailed assessment of ten properties in the Cima Corgo and Upper Douro by winemakers Jorge Alves and Celso Pereira
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