The quality of Portuguese table wines has never been higher, so Tanners are offering a discount on 5 of their wines when you buy a case of 6.

They have a trio of reds from that most dramatic wine growing regions, the Douro Valley.

Tons de Duorum from the wild and windy High Douro is a fleshy, fruit-filled delight; Prazo de Roriz, from one of the oldest and prettiest estates in the valley, is elegant and fresh but still with lots of ripe fruit character.

The famous Symington family’s “Estate” wine goes under the name Altano and the Reserva is a bigger, chunky red, beautifully aromatic and again with that explosion of juicy black fruit.

Away from the Douro you will be very impressed by Esporão, a terrific brace of Reservas made by David Baverstock in the Alentejo. Both have an oaky edge to a serious centre – wonderful, full-on wines.

Tons de Duorum, Douro Red 2008
6 bottles £44
Saving £3.70 a case
Bin no: ZS091

Prazo de Roriz, Douro Red 2008
6 bottles £52
Saving £4.40 a case
Bin no: ZS092

Altano Reserva, Douro Red, Symington 2008
6 bottles £66
Saving £5.70 a case
Bin no: ZS093

Esporão Reserva Red, Alentejo 2008
6 bottles £80
Saving £7 a case
Bin no: ZS094

Esporão Reserva White, Alentejo 2009
6 bottles £60
Saving £5.70 a case
Bin no: ZS095

To order your case visit www.tanners-wines.co.uk or call 01743 234500

Guess the grape variety and the first 10 correct answers will win a ViniPortugal Corkscrew

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ is a variety of red wine grape, considered by many to be Portugal’s finest.

Despite the low yields from its small grapes, it plays a big part in the blends used for ports, and is increasingly being used for table wine in the Douro and Dão. It provides structure and body to wine, with high tannins and concentrated flavours of black fruit.

Click here to email your answers

The Douro is the world’s first wine region and is the world’s biggest mountain vineyard. The schist soils and old, mixed vineyards make forward powerfully structured blends with rich, wild fruit and a mineral core.

Key varieties include Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Amarela.

We interviewed Tiago Alves de Sousa from Alves de Sousa Winery in the Douro…

Which is your favourite wine that you make in the Douro?

“Well… that’s almost like asking my parents which son or daughter they like most! The answer is the same – I have no favourites. What I like most about working in the Douro is the character, the personality, the diversity that each vineyard shows. What I try to do in the winery is to express the best that I can that multiplicity of characters. So, for me it’s almost impossible to pick a favourite. They’re just different! But, of course that there’s always some that, for some reason, you particularly empathise with. For me, from the wines I make, “Abandonado” (red D.O.C. Douro) is definitely very special.”

3 words to describe your favourite wine?

“Dramatic – as the vineyard where it comes from, and that named it – “Abandonado” means “Abandoned”, as this steep and rocky 80 year old vineyard located on the top of Quinta da Gaivosa with already many vines missing was indeed abandoned for some time.

Authentic – as it has a character on its own – it’s the vineyard talking, without “cosmetics” and no commitments.”

What international food would you match with it?

“Abandonado, in its youth (3-7 years old) needs something rich, with intense flavours. I would pair it with a rich meat, like a wild boar with a berries’ sauce for example, or a confit of pork belly. After some aging (10-15 years), it can be also a good companion for a good steak, like a fillet mignon.”

What do you do when you’re not making wine?

“When I’m not making wine I’m trying to sell it! Now, more seriously, although I love wine and what I do, I also have many other interests.

I love to travel and to discover new places and cultures. And, as the vineyards and the wines always require a lot of time and attention, when there’s some spare time there’s nothing better than just enjoying some moments with the family!“

Tiago’s wines are available from www.topselection.co.uk

To find other Douro wines log onto ViniPortugal’s ‘where to buy Portuguese wines website’ where you can search for a bottle of wine or retailer in your local area www.viniportugal.co.uk