From the Douro to the Azores, discover the most impressive Portuguese wine gifts
With over 250 native grape varieties, 14 different wine regions from north to south and on to Madeira and the Azores, and an incredibly wide range of soil types and climatic conditions which give a myriad of distinctive individual terroirs, Portugal offers a huge choice of wines for everyone – red, white, rosé, sparkling and fortified.
For a wine enthusiast, what could be a more wonderful surprise this Christmas than to be gifted a couple of Portugal’s best wines, chosen for you from among the country’s many glorious bottles by a wine trade expert.
Essential consulted four of Portugal’s leading wine producers, an online Portuguese wine retailer with a creatively curated selection of wines, and the founder of two London wine bars which specialise in Portugal.
We sent them this message: “You are gifting two bottles of Portuguese wine to a friend this Christmas. One wine is produced from your own vineyards, the other wine from the vineyards of a colleague.
Which two wines will you choose and why are they so very special?”.
Told in their own words, these are our panel’s favourites. Saúde!
Adrian Bridge, Ceo of The Fladgate Partnership
Own vineyards – Late Bottled Vintage, Taylor
An amazing wine that over-delivers on quality and a perfect accompaniment to Christmas. We often pair it with chocolate desserts, mince pies and Christmas pudding.
This year Taylor’s celebrates 333 years making Port in the Douro Valley.
Available at: Apolónia Supermarkets, €16.95
A colleague’s vineyard – Cartuxa Red 2021 (Alentejo-Évora DOC), Adega Cartuxa
A rigorous selection of the finest Alicante Bouschet, Aragonês and Trincadeira grapes to give a bold, lively personality.
These wines of tradition and quality are aged in the silence of the cellars of the Carthusian Monastery.
Available at: Apolónia Supermarkets, €22.95
Max Graham, Founder of Bar Douro In London and Member of the Graham Port Family
Max Graham
Own vineyards – Late Bottled Vintage, Churchill’s
Crafted in the traditional Douro style, foot-trodden in granite lagares, then aged in large oak vats for four years.
Deep black cherry hue, it unfolds with rich blackberry aromas and resinous undertones.
Smooth and complex with juicy notes of wild berries and dark chocolate.
Available at: Garrafeira Nacional, €20.50
A colleague’s vineyard – Avô Fausto White (Bairrada DOC), Quinta das Bágeiras
A tribute to the producer’s grandfather, this wine is made from low-yield Maria Gomes grapes, harvested early for freshness and fermented in used French oak barrels.
A refined, elegant expression of Maria Gomes, with supple, perfumed fresh pear and pear skin accents, backed by harmonious ripe acidity and a long, elegant finish.
Available at: Apolónia Supermarkets, €29.95
Paul Symington, former Chairman Symington Family Estates
Paul Symington ©Ricardo Garrido
Own vineyards – Pombal do Vesúvio Red 2022 (Douro DOC), Quinta do Vesúvio
Quinta do Vesúvio is known as the ‘Queen of the Douro’, with a beautiful estate house built by Dona Antónia Ferreira in 1827 and a stunning 137-hectare vineyard.
Pombal is a delicious Douro wine made primarily from Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, with a touch of Tinta Amarela and Alicante Bouschet.
There can be few wines of this quality available anywhere at this price.
Available at: Garrafeira Nacional, €14.95
A colleague’s vineyard – Pintas Character Red (Douro DOC), Wine & Soul
This wine is made by our friends Jorge Borges and Sandra Tavares, from vineyards in the Pinhão Valley, and is an excellent Douro red showing all the characteristics of our region’s low-yielding, high-quality vines.
I love the dense red-fruit character of this wine, so emblematic of the region.
Available at: Vinoteca, €33.95
Kit Weaver, Third Generation at Quinta De La Rosa
Own vineyards – Cerejinha White 2021 (Douro DOC), Quinta de la Rosa
In recent years there has been considerable growth in the stature of Douro whites, and nothing captures this better than our Cerejinha. Made with 50% Alvarinho and 50% Arinto, it has great acidity and lovely white fruit.
It is a very versatile wine that goes wonderfully with Christmas flavours, such as oysters or even heartier fish dishes.
Available at: Vinha, €26.99
A colleague’s vineyard – Poeira White 2023 (Douro DOC), Quinta do Poeira
Our fantastic winemaker, Jorge Moreira, makes Poeira Branco from grapes grown in his own vineyards.
Jorge has long been a fan of Alvarinho and this is arguably one of the finest expressions of this variety you will find anywhere.
Available at: Apolónia Supermarkets, €39.95
William Wouters, Filipa Pato & William Wouters
William Wouters and Filipa Pato
Own vineyards – Filipa Pato Flos Castanea White 2022, Filipa Pato & William Wouters
A skin-contact wine made mainly from Bical. Instead of sulphur, we protect it with chestnut flowers.
This wine is very special for us because the first vintage was made when João Goucho, grandson of Fernando Paiva, pioneer of biodynamics in Portugal, was doing an internship with us.
A beautiful meeting of generations and philosophies.
Available at: Vinha, €27.49
A colleague’s vineyard – Loureiro White 2022 (Vinho Verde DOC), Quinta da Palmirinha
The Loureiro from Quinta da Palmirinha is another skin-contact wine, and represents the same values of friendship, authenticity and biodynamics as our Flos Castanea, showing how Portuguese wines can combine tradition and creativity.
Both wines express deep respect for nature, which for me is what Christmas gifting is all about.
Available at: VirguWines, €10.50
Marlowe Fawcett, co-founder of The Wine Fellas
The Wine Fellas
Bush Wines Red 2023 (Tras-os-Montes DOC), Cinética, Valpaços
This wine is like driving a gold-rimmed Bentley down your throat –intense, rich and delicious. An old vine field blend, complex and deeply layered after 30 months in barriques.
Cinetica Valpacos Tinto
Stinks of chocolate, cherry and black plum, expressive of Portuguese history, depth and intensity.
Available at: The Wine Fellas, €16.93
Frei Gigante White 2021 Terroir Vulcânico, Ilha do Pico
Azorean wines are almost by default complex, rich and layered. The grapes soak up the Atlantic rains and ocean breezes and drink up the islands’ volcanic soils.
The 2021 vintage, inspiring and exciting, is like a Gregorian chant wrapped in gold leaf and sprayed with mermaid tears and lemon zest.
Available at: The Wine Fellas, €20.89
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