The narrow, cobbled streets and lively restaurants of Oporto in northern Portugal will be familiar to many Irish tourists. Sadly, not all visitors find the time to head upriver to enjoy one of the world’s great vineyards.
The Douro has always been famous for port, a sweet, fortified wine that is one of the wine world’s great treasures. The vineyards are even more spectacular, steep terraces rising several hundred metres from the river studded whitewashed quintas and granite outcrops. A trip by train, boat or car will be memorable even to those not interested in wine.
In recent years, producers have started to make unfortified red and white wines. Some of these are very good. As well as full-bodied red wines there are lighter reds, rosés and surprisingly fresh delicate white wines from cooler high-altitude vineyards. The Douro is home to dozens of indigenous grape varieties, most of which can produce quality wines in the right hands.
I have already featured Douro wines from Niepoort and Luis Seabra, two of my favourite Portuguese producers. Their wines are available in many leading wine shops. Space did not allow me to include the Gambozinos 2019 (€21.95, The Wine Buff), a great example of the more full-bodied style. In addition, Lidl has four wines from the Douro. I would recommend the Parcelas white (€11.99) and the Isolado Red (€15.99). Aldi also has two red Douro wines from Animus that are worth checking out.
Vinhas de Xisto Reserva 2021, Douro
14%, €11.50
Warm, earthy, smooth and rounded with a little spice and blue fruits. Nice easy drinking. Try it with pork chops, or lighter lamb dishes.
From Dunnes Stores
Gradus 2021 Douro
14%, €14.95
Attractive, tangy, vibrant red cherries with subtle toasted notes, and a smooth finish.
From Mitchell & Sons, Sandycove, IFC, and Avoca outlets; Clontarf Wines
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Crasto Altitude 430 2021 Douro
12.5%, €23.75
From one of the leading producers in Douro, a delightfully light and elegant wine with lively fresh red fruits and a tannin-free finish.
From Wines Direct, Mullingar and Athlone, Winesdirect.ie
Vinha Grande 2021 Douro Casa Ferreirinha
13%, €23.95
A seductive elegant wine with smooth dark fruits, a herbal touch and a lovely fruit-filled finish. Enjoy this alongside lighter pork dishes or a mushroom tart.
From McHughs, D5; Avoca; Mannings, Ballylickey; The Drink Store, D7; The Cinnamon Cottage, Cork; The Parting Glass, Enniskerry; Martin’s, D3; TheAllotment.ie; Ely Wine Store, Maynooth; The Corkscrew, D2; The Wine Centre, Kilkenny; Wineonline.ie
