No grape is more Portuguese than Touriga Nacional and on Friday, December 6, Algarve Wine Society (AWS) members had the opportunity to learn a lot more about it, both in theory and practice!
Distinguished wine consultant Vasco Magalhães, visiting the Algarve with his wife Zé from Porto, was on hand to explain the qualities of the grape and its use.
Before the meal, six specially selected wines were tasted, starting with an espumante from the Douro. All were 100% Touriga Nacional, revealing much about the versatility of a low-yielding variety which is nevertheless key to many red blends and especially in port production because it gives body, structure and black fruit flavours.
All those qualities were in evidence in the tasting wines, but they varied considerably in character, maybe partly due to the diverse regions of origin: although Touriga Nacional is largely associated with Douro and Dão, the Lisbon and Alentejo regions were also represented, and the tasting concluded with a transversal blend from four regions, including the Algarve.
The Laranjal restaurant of the Vila Monte Farm House near Moncarapacho was the venue, and the tasting continued alongside a four-course menu starting with goat cheese au gratin with honey, served with a delightful crisp rosé – revealing another facet of Touriga Nacional’s qualities – and concluding with grilled pineapple and a very special port-style wine, once again made entirely from Portugal’s signature grape.
The AWS will next meet on January 21 for a tasting of wines from Quinta do Sobreiró de Cima.
More information on the AWS is available at www.algarvewinesociety.com
By ALISON WEST
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