Continuing our mission to highlight every wine that will be tasted during The Big Tasting with Oz Clark on April 12th, we’ve now moved on to the 3rd wine: Quinta de la Rosa Reserva 2008.

The Quinta de la Rosa vineyard is located in beautiful terraced vineyards carved by the winding Douro River. The region itself contains primarily schist soils and is surrounded by the Marão and Montemuro mountain ranges. Consequently, despite the 250,000 hectares in the Douro, only 40,000 of it has been dedicated to culturing vines. Working the vines is primarily done by hand as the combination of slippery and sharp soils in conjunction with incredibly steep terrain makes vine growing in the area more of an extreme sport than a romantic vocation.

The winery is run by the father and daughter team, Tim and Sophia Bergquist, along with the support of Sophia’s brother, Phillip. The winery was originally given to Sophia’s grandmother as a christening present over 100 years ago.

Sophia Bergquist describes this wine as big, juicy and surprisingly good. She recommends steak, stews, meats, cheese, and even chicken to go with this wine.

We thought a good recipe might be: Costelas Vinho d’alhos (Wine and Garlic Marinated Pork Ribs)

6 cloves garlic, smashed
1 tablespoon coarse salt
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon molho picante (hot chili sauce)
1 cup wine
5 pounds meaty pork ribs

1. In a large non-reactive ceramic, glass or stainless steel bowl, combine the garlic, salt, lemon juice, chili sauce, and wine.
2. If you have the ribs in a rack, separate them by cutting between the ribs to separate them. Place all the ribs in the bowl, turning them in the marinade to coat thoroughly. You can double the marinade recipe if needed.
3. Marinate the ribs 24 to 36 hours. Grill over medium hot coals or wood fire , turning as needed, cooking until the meat is nearly falling off the bone.

Variation: You can also toss them in a roasting pan, marinade and all, braise the ribs in the oven for 1 hour at 350 degree F. and then transfer them to the grill for the finishing touch.

What kinds of foods or music would you pair with this wine?

Share your thoughts on the wine!

Continuing our mission to highlight every wine that will be tasted during The Big Tasting with Oz Clark on April 12th, we’ve now moved on to the 6th and final wine: Arco de Esporão 2008.

Like the Tinto da Ânfora 2006, Arco de Esporão is from the Alentejo region, where the villages are rural with majestic sunsets. Evora and Monsaraz are medieval forested towns with world heritage status. If you’ve never visited the open markets or the quaint family run shops in the Alentejo, mark it under your “must visit” list.

The Arco de Esporão is a new multi-varietal blend made specially for Waitrose by top Portuguese winemaker David Baverstock. Made with the indigenous grape varieties: Aragónez, Trincadeira, Castelão, Syrah, Touriga Nacional and Alicante Bouschet, it’s a stunning wine. The judicious use of well-integrated oak adds a spicy, herbal quality to this gorgeous red, with its rounded palate and soft tannins. Ideal for drinking now with pasta or meat dishes, alternatively cellar for 3 to 5 years for more mature style.

As for where to visit in Evora? Follow Go Lisbon’s suggestions and check out:

1. Temple of Diana: Dating from the 2nd century, it is one of the Iberian Peninsula’s best preserved Roman monuments, raised on a 3m (10ft)-high stone platform, with 14 of the original 18 granite Corinthian columns still standing. The whitewashed houses, arches, and twisting alleyways that characterize the town reflect the Moorish presence.
2. Praça do Giraldo: Located in the main square, this is the best place to start a visit. It was an execution ground during the Inquisition, but is now filled with shops and cafes, and surrounded by attractive townhouses with wrought-iron balconies.
3. Loios Convent: The convent is now a splendid pousada but anyone can visit its Gothic church founded in 1485.
4. Towers of the Sé (cathedral): This was built in 1186 (and where the flags of Vasco da Gama’s ships were blessed before his voyage to India), are seen from here. It is a blend of Romanesque and Gothic, and on the portal are 14th century sculpted Apostles. The Gothic interior has one of the longest naves found in any cathedral in the country, measuring 70m(230ft), and has a large Renaissance organ, thought to be the oldest in Europe.
5. City Museum, representing Evora’s long history through Roman columns, 16th-century paintings, and modern sculpture. Among the paintings is a 15th century Holy Virgin with Child by Alvaro Pires (he is one of the earliest identified Portuguese artists although a number of his paintings are displayed in Pisa and Florence in Italy).
6. Church of São Francisco. It is a Manueline-Gothic structure completed around 1510, and legend has it that Portuguese navigator Gil Vicente is buried in it. Not buried, but on display, are the bones and skulls of some 5000 people covering the walls and columns of the church’s Chapel of Bones

Do you have any additional suggestions as to where one should visit, or eat, in Evora?!

With The BIG Tasting promotions in full swing, we felt it was high time to learn about each of the wines, starting with the region from which they’re born to the foods that bring a different light to our palate. Over the next six days, we’ll be highlighting each of the wines, with the hope that you’ll share your thoughts as to additional recipes you might pair with them, places you suggest drinking them, and if you’ve tried this wine in the past, what thoughts came to mind?!

So, without further adieu, let us begin with the Vinho Verde region of Portugal where the Quinta de Azevedo 2009 comes from. This lush, green wine region, which gives Vinho Verde its name, is located in the northwest of Portugal and has a strong Atlantic influence which results in a temperature climate of not very cold, but rather rainy winters, and relatively dry and cool summers.

This 12th century winery is housed between the rivers Lima and Cávado, in the Barcelos parish, and is surrounded by exclusively white varieties. Since 1982, this estate has been apart of the Sogrape portfolio, and considered one of the best Loureiro producing quintas in Portugal.

Vinho Verdes are known for their fresh, fruity characteristics, making them the ideal pairing for seafood, salads and grilled fish. They also have been known to be fabulous picnic wines for lazy days spent at the beach or lounging at the park. Then again, who’s to say that these aren’t wonderful winter wines when your summer nostalgia needs a little support.

Where is your favorite place to drink a Vinho Verde?

Share your thoughts about the wine.

Continuing our mission to highlight every wine that will be tasted during The Big Tasting with Oz Clark on April 12th, we’ve now moved on to the 2nd wine: Tagus Creek Cabernet Sauvignon/Aragonez 2008.

The Tagus Creek vineyard is located in a very unique wine region called, the Tejo. The landscape is dominated mainly by thick and majestic cork trees and expansive vineyards, which are protect by the Atlantic Ocean climate by small regal mountains.

The Tejo originally gained its reputation for producing large quantities of wine that would supply restaurants and taverns in Lisbon. However, in the last 15 years, the region underwent massive changes in the vineyards, in the wineries and not surprisingly, in winemaking with more young blood pumping through the region. Many vines were transferred from the fields near the sea to the ones in the interior. This lowered production, but increased quality.

The Tagus Creek Cabernet Sauvignon/Aragonez is described by Roque Cunha Ferreira, the new export manager at Falua, where Tagus Creek is made as elegant, full-bodied and balanced. And what does he savour with such an expressive red wine? Like many of us, she seeks out grilled steak, game, spicy foods and strong cheeses.

He has provided a recipe for stewed wild boar which matches the wine perfectly…

Stewed Wild Boar   (Serves 8 people)

Ingredients:

1 kg wild boar
salt and pepper
12 garlic cloves
2 soupspoons paprika

1 teaspoon cumin
2,5 dl white wine
4 onions thinly sliced
1 dl olive oil

50 g margarine
1 soupspoon lard
80 g bacon strips cut into squares
7 bay leafs
1 cup brandy

Chopped up fresh coriander

Preparation

• Cut the wild boar into pieces and in a recipient season with salt, pepper, 6 garlic cloves mashed up, paprika, cumin and white wine.
• Mix well the meat with all the seasoning, close the recipient and leave it in the fridge to marinate for 1 to 2 days. During this period, mix the meat from time to time.
• Peel the onions and the rest of the garlic cloves.
• In the stove, with medium heat, place a large clay pot, fry the onions and garlic cloves in the olive oil, margarine and lard. Add the bacon and bay leaves and let it get brownish. Drain the meat from the seasoning and place the bits in the pot. Let the meat get brownish on both sides. Add the brandy and a bit of the marinating gravy. Close the pot and let the meat cook slowly in medium/low heat. Go on adding the rest of the marinating gravy and some boiling water so the meat does not dry up. Once it’s cooked add the coriander and close the pot.

(That’s a recipe to impress your friends and family with!)

Would you pair wild boar with this Tagus Creek wine, or are you more of a duck confit type of person? Tell us your favorite pairings with Portuguese reds?!

As a sidenote, if you’re passing through Tejo, we highly suggest you check out the city of Tomar, the headquarters of the Knights Templar in the 12th century and houses some of the most significant Templar monuments in Europe.

Share your thoughts about the wine!

Essencia do Vinho was a truly fantastic wine event with the best of Portugal, good hospitality and good wines, there was a few moments that I will never forget, the tasting of the 10 best of Portugal, very hight quality wines, the 100 years of the Republic tasting with Fortified wines with 100 years of age it was like being in a Art Gallery and having a Picasso in my mouth and the degustation diner at The Comercial Restaurant with Vale D’Algares wines, simply superb with great food and great wines, my compliments to the Chef and Pedro Goncalves his definitely a wine maker to keep under my eye, Thank you ViniPortugal
Victor Amaro – Hotel du Vin Cheltenham

The BIG Tasting with Oz Clarke is fast approaching, and after weeks of endless meetings, e-mails, phone calls and decisions, the event is finally planned, all the promotional material is in place, the website is live….so let the countdown begin.

The employees at Waitrose Canary Wharf and John Lewis on Oxford Street have been busy with the technology side of things. They have the responsibility to ensure that all the live streaming works on the night, so test runs have been happening in store to ensure that it all goes smoothly.

We asked Nick Room the wine buyer for Waitrose how this fun and exciting tasting benefits Waitrose and the image of Portuguese wines.

He said “The event gives good exposure to Portuguese wine and the broadcast is fronted by an excellent host, Oz Clarke, who is well known to millions. The event  is good publicity for Portuguese wine, as soon as people try Portuguese table wines they’ll love them enough to want to go on to purchase, this is because of the diversity, unique flavours, structure, weight, fruitiness, superb balance – all good attributes and delivering excellent value for money!”

Well Nick we couldn’t agree more! If you want to learn more about the Big tasting Visit the site! Or send us a question!

See you all soon!

Read this fascinating article featured on imbibe.com, which informs and educates you about the wonders of Portugal, the regions and it’s delicious wines!!

http://imbibe.com/article/dynamic-for-the-people

This year during the Annual Tasting of Portuguese Wines ViniPortugal is planning a fantastic wine tasting with a difference. Famous celebrity wine expert Oz Clarke is set to lead the nation’s wine lovers through six Portuguese wines on April 12th 2010, and wherever you live you can take part!

1) You can join in the tasting with the irrepressible Oz Clarke starting at 6pm at Lord’s Cricket ground. Tickets are available from www.seetickets.com at £15 per person, a contribution from every ticket sold will be made to the Madeira Disaster Fund.

2) Join in one of the ‘on-line’ outside events at John Lewis in Oxford Street, or Waitrose Canary Wharf.

3) View the tasting with Oz live on-line at www.thebigtasting.com from the comfort of your own home from 7pm onwards. Why not organise a Portuguese evening with your friends, and create your own event.

All 6 wines Oz will show are available at Waitrose so you can buy them in advance from Waitrose stores or from www.waitrosewine.com

All you have to do is log onto www.thebigtasting.com to register, and then simply enjoy 6 fantastic Portuguese wines with Oz from your chosen venue on Monday 12th April.

You can also follow ‘vpwine’ on Twitter in the lead up to the event. Make sure to use #TBT2010 to track the event. Please help us spread the word by telling all your friends and family to help make this event the biggest tasting in Britain!!