The Apolónia Wine Fair started last week, and this is always an event I enjoy. They have, after all, one of the best wine selections in the country, with over 2,000 references, and when the wine fair is on, they apply discounts of between 10% and 50% on over 350 different wines, not only from Portugal but also from all over the world.
If you have a wine cellar, this is the time to stock it up, but, for any wine lover, there are great bargains to be had. Let’s look, first of all, at the most heavily discounted wines, reduced by 50%, of which there are four.
First up is a wine that always represents good value for money when looking for an oaked white – Casa Cadaval Reserva from near Lisbon, reduced from €8.49 to €4.24. This is a blend of Arinto and Viognier, fermented and aged on the lees in used French oak barrels. Just a hint of toast on the nose from the oak does not overpower the mature white and tropical fruit notes.
They also have the silky smooth reserva red from the same producer with 50% off at €6.45.
Another is Herdade da Fonte Coberta Syrah, made in the heart of Alentejo wine country near Estremoz. This is a juicy Syrah in the new world style with plenty of up-front fruit and well-integrated oak, reduced from €14.95 to €7.47.
And, finally, the mainstream red from Quinta do Cardo in the far northern Beira Interior region near the Spanish border. This organic red is always a bargain at the normal price of €6.99, but, at €3.99, it is a gift.
Other serious bargains to look out for include Cortes de Cima Aragonez (Tempranillo) at €11.95 after a 40% discount.
But Christmas is now only just a few months away and if looking to stock up on some bubbly, I would go for the excellent espumante made by Quinta do Rol from the Lisbon region. This is a sparkler that does a great job of tasting very much like mainstream Champagne, making the usual price of €22.95 very reasonable, but with 30% off at €15.99, it makes a lot of sense.
And if you fancy some nice port for Christmas, the 10-year-old Tawny from Niepoort is also down by 30% to €23.99.
The biggest saving of all, however, reduced by more than €300 per bottle is the star of Pomerol, Petrus, with a 10% discount.
