As I explore more the wine regions of the world, I am getting more adventurous. I recently had the opportunity to go beyond the typical grape of what each country is well known. For example, when I heard about Wines of Portugal, I just stuck to the well-known grape: Touriga Nacional in its original form, meaning contained on a bottle of red wine, bold and delicious, but that was it.
However, I had the pleasure to join Dão Wines in New Jersey for an in-person tasting event on September 28th of 2021. It was very significant to see people. Moreover, to enjoy and discover the hidden wine gems from Dão and go beyond the Red Touriga Nacional.
We were introduced to the wine tasting by Sommelier, Wine Educator, and Portuguese Wine Advocate Bruno Almeida, aka @drummelier. We enjoyed Daõ Wines paired with a menu from DeVine Wine Bar in the heart of Jersey City.
If you have not had wines from the Dão region yet, you are in for a treat. This region is the hidden gem of Portugal! They have so many indigenous grapes that I didn’t know. But, mainly, I was impressed by and the minerality and the richness of Encruzado. I was even more impressed by the Touriga Nacional Rosé, Touriga Nacional Blanc de Noirs. Winemaking in Portugal combines the innovation of the New World but respecting the legacy of the land. The young winemakers are traveling and getting to know the world and bringing home new techniques.
Perhaps it is a region that is not new. Still, it is for many of us since the efforts of getting the word out there of great Portuguese Wines have been securely kept. However, now that the word is out, the message is getting clear. I am glad that spreading awareness of the Dão Wine Region is in the hands of professionals such as Allison Levine that are truly embracing the awareness of Dão Wines.
More about Dão Wines here
Learn more from other wine regions of the world
Martha Cisneros Paja is an Engineer, Cava Educator and WSET Level 2 certified, founder of Latinas Wine Club Inc. and author of Mexican Wines: A guide to Fall in Love with Wines of Mexico . Read more about one of the most hard-working Latinas in Wine here.
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