Who says the Algarve can’t produce good wines as its too arid and hot!

Who says the Algarve can’t produce good wines as its too arid and hot! ..... Apart from our special friend Cliff who has been making his Vida Nova wine now for a few years there are some wonderful wines now appearing made in the Algarve.  Most are Portuguese “Quintas” – (the word means farms) and vineyards and some have some “French influence” both in the making of the wines and some of the grapes used, but all are really good.

Some new Algarve wonders I have discovered:

Firstly from the foothills of the Monchique mountains in a micro climate near the Odelouca dam “Quinta do Frances” (farm of the Frenchman) www.quintadofrances.com produces some simple but stunning wines – both the white and rose are excellent value, light but fruity and the Algarve sun comes through all be it with a foreign sleight of hand; both are a good all round summer favourites, good alone or with just about anything.  The winter reds (grape variety Aragonês (Tempranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Trincadeira) are in a class of their own and the “Encostas de Odelouca Red” won a Gold medal in Brussels  in 2009. Just try a bottle and you will be very pleased you did.  Wine tastings are available at the Quinta and you can order on line in the UK and have their nectar delivered to your door.

Secondly there are many treats in store for you at Quinta dos Vales a unique place/concept developed by the imagination and hard work of Karl Heinz Stock who has taken a small local vineyard, Quinta dos Vales, gone the extra mile and taken it the next step to produce some award winners: “Grace Touriga Nacional” 2008 included in Portugal Top 10 Touriga Nacional.
In the Wine Masters Challenge 2011 they  were also awarded 2 Gold medals their “Grace Vineyard red” 2008 and “Selecta red” 2008, as well as 2 Silver medals for the “Grace Vineyard white” 2010 and “Primeira Selecção white” 2010.  Watch this space for special stays at the vineyard incorporating wine tastings and sculpture appreciation!

Next month our Algarve Sleuth will share some more Algarve wine secrets......if you are interested in anything specific about  Algarve wine or the Algarve in general just drop us a line and we will be happy to help.