Many of you will have been to the Algarve on holiday, but did you know that they also make some very interesting wines.

In this article you can find out about the variety of wines the Algarve produces, the main local grapes and life as a wine maker in Sir Cliff Richard’s Winery, Adega do Cantor.

A Bit about the Algarve

The Algarve is the most southern region of Portugal and has four separate DOC’s; Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa and Tavira.

• Lagos – The red wine is smooth and fruity with a low acidity level. The white wine is lemon-straw in colour and tends to be full bodied.

• Portimão – The red wine is light, smooth with low acidity and high alcohol content. The white wine is straw-coloured with a soft and rich aromatic flavour.

• Lagoa – The soft and sandy soil and warm climate provides a rich distinct flavour. The red wines are ruby coloured which develop with age and are easy to drink. The white wine is soft and full bodied. Both have high alcohol content.

• Tavira – The red wine is soft and pale coloured and with a fruity aroma. The white wine is straw-coloured, smooth and full bodied.

The Main Local Grapes are:

• Red – Negra Mole and Castelão
• White – Roupeiro (sira), Bual Branco (malvasia Fina) and Manteudo.

We interviewed Max Birch from one of Sir Cliff Richard’s Wineries, Adega do Cantor, to find out about life in the Algarve…

What is your favourite wine that you make in the Algarve region?
At the moment it is a single varietal Alicanté Bouschet that we have had in barrel for 10 months and that will be released next year.

3 words to describe this favourite wine?
Structured, Corpulent, Intense.

What international food would you match with it?
Grilled Black Pig with Salt. I know this is not international but it should be. Also it is genuinely one of the only foods strong enough to match Southern Portuguese Alicanté.

What do you do when you’re not making wine?
I eat fantastic Portuguese food and gain weight. Then I run around after my two small children to lose it.

To taste wines from the Algarve click here or log onto www.viniportugal.co.uk and search by region to find a retailer or stockiest closest to you.

You can also taste wines from Vida Nova with Oz Clarke, simply click here and enjoy the 6 wines all available in Waitrose.

Chalié Richards has launched the first ever sparkling wine from Sir Cliff Richard’s Adega do Cantor winery in the Algarve, Portugal which has been released to celebrate Sir Cliff’s 70th birthday later this year. The wine is part of the Vida Nova range and is made from 100 per cent Syrah grapes picked in 2008.

Winemaker, Max Birch, commented: “We were keen to extend the Vida Nova range to include a sparkling wine and decided to make the first vintage to mark Sir Cliff’s 50 years in music and to celebrate his 70th birthday. We are delighted with the first bottling and have already received a number of pre orders from ardent Cliff fans!”

A limited volume of the Vida Nova Espumante Rosé will be released in May and will be available in the UK through importer, Chalié Richards.