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 5th wine: Tinto da Ânfora 2007 Alentejo, Portugal.

Now when we think of the Alentejo, we tend to think of cork forests, vast stretches of undulating hills blanketed in wild flowers, and of course, pigs! These little black footed guys are famous for Portuguese cured ham, presunto. However, the Alentejo is also famous for their intense and aromatic wines.

Most of the region’s 22000 hectares of vine are consolidated inthe eight sub-regions of the Denomination of Origin of Alentejo: Reguengos, Borba, Redondo, Vidigueira, Évora, Granja-Amareleja, Portalegre and Moura. You’ll typically find white wines made with Roupeiro, Antão Vaz and Arinto. The red grape varieties Trincadeira, Aragonez and Castelão also hold court in this neck of the woods.

Tinto da Anfora by Bacalhôa Vinhos is a blend of 6 grape varieties, and is an excellent medium-bodied red. It has a highly rustic palate showing notes of cherry, bramble and black-currant fruits with a mouth filling texture and smoky, slightly oaky finish.

It can be enjoyed with red meats or stews and also barbecued meats.

That said, what are your favorite grilled dishes to pair with rustic red wines?

Share with us what you think of the wine!

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.