Portugal

In terms of the rich diversity of its indigenous varieties Portugal can be second only to Italy as a wine producing-country. The Douro valley is placing more emphasis, to great effect, on its red table wines as opposed to just its famed fortified Ports. It is a region to keep a close eye on.

The Ribatejo is another wine-producing region with great potential that caught our attention thanks to the astonishing efforts of the Pinhal da Torre estate. Here Paulo Saturnino Cunha exploits some impeccable vines, including the fabulous indigenous Castelão, Trincadeira, Tinta Roriz, and Touriga Nacional varieties, and employing traditional foot crushing in stone ‘lagares’ alongside modern temperature controlled vinification, makes some of Portugal’s most complex characterful and stylish wines.