Last year I attended Appellation Alentejo masterclass led by Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein and tasted Portuguese wine (for the first time, if you don’t include port) from the Alentejo region. Since the seminar, I’ve tried quite a few Portuguese wine samples and have loved all of them, from white to red. So this summer during pandemic lockdown, I attended the Wines of Alentejo Sustainability Program (WASP) virtual wine seminar hosted by the same folks. We prepared tapas and dinner to accompany this wine pairing so we could get a greater tasting experience. If this doesn’t solidify my wanting to visit Portugal, I don’t know what does.
[Related: Appellation Alentejo Wine Seminar in Houston and Exploring Alentejo Reds with a Portuguese Wine & Food Pairing and Exploring Alentejo Whites with a Portuguese Wine & Food Pairing]
An Overview
The seminar focused on the Alentejo wine region, including a brief history of the region, Wines of Alentejo Sustainability Program, and then a tasting of five Alentejo wines (one white wine and four red wines).
The Tasting
As I tasted the wines, I made a few notes to myself for future wine buying.
I’m not a sommelier or even a connoisseur. I am a wine lover with a bad nose, meaning I’m not going to pick up subtleties in wine, nor do I pretend to claim to understand them. Which is why I focus on pairings, intimate social gatherings, and travel with respect to wine. I invited over my Supper Club to help taste, pair with food, and consume any leftovers. My very brief notes are below, and links to more information for each wine.
This bold white wine with signature grape, Antao Vaz, works really well with the fatty cured meats in the tapas plate. The creamy texture demands food but is still bright and fresh. Loved it!
In it’s blend is Aragonez, the same grape as tempranillo, and as such this wine paired really well with all tapas on the plate. We all agreed this was a perfect social wine, and with a price point of $12, this crowd pleaser needs to be stocked in the wine fridge for small gatherings.
This wine was pretty complex on the palate with oak and dark fruit, and really paired well with red meat. We daydreamed of pairing this with unpeppered filet mignon, pork tenderloin, and beef tacos (picadillo would be my go-to). I also loved the label.
Reguengos Garrafiera dos Socios 2014
This peppery stunner paired the best with the braised short ribs we prepared for the evening. I loved the bite!
Gorgeous Alicante and Syrah blend that also paired best with the braised short ribs, or any fatty meat. We wished we had au gratin potatoes prepared, as we thought that would also compliment the wine. This was definitely a crowd favorite.
Key Points from the Seminar
What I took away from the wine seminar, was a reaffirmed interest in a wine region I had previously overlooked before last year. I’m intrigued by the history of the region, seduced by the open countryside, and impressed by the impact of this wine region on the rest of the world. Here are some key points from the seminar worth sharing. (disclaimer: fact check or embrace the Portuguese pride at your discretion)
- Alentejo is located in Southern Portugal near Lisbon
- The region is roughly 30% land mass of the country
- With 4000 years of winemaking history, they produce about 75% red wine and 25% white wine (with a very small percentage of rose)
- The region has the highest temperatures in Europe and the climate is also dry
- ~40% Alentejo region is in the WASP program and monitors energy use, water consumption, and nest boxes in their vineyards
Everything was just lovely, and I appreciate Creative Palate for inviting me to attend the virtual wine seminar and for Wines of Alentejo hosting the guided tasting. Although I am not “in the industry”, as an every day wine lover and habitual traveler, I have and promote an extreme appreciation for wine tourism. Each sip invokes a sense of place, an appreciation for climate, soil geology, geography, and cultural setting. If drinking wine doesn’t make you want to visit the place it comes from, or at least learn about it, it should. Portugal…I can’t wait to meet you!
For more information on Wines of Alentejo and to explore the region, visit their website here.
Technical Sheets and Fun Facts courtesy of Creative Palate Communications and Wines of Alentejo
Regional Overview: Alentejo brochure-regional overview.pdf
Fun Facts: Fun facts Alentejo.pdf
Grapes: Grapes Alentejo.pdf
Soil: Soil Alentejo.pdf
And my favorite…
Tourism: Tourism Alentejo.pdf