For The Love Of Port

Who are your top 3 producers for dry white and red wines from the Douro?

Hi there,


White

Bago de Touriga (Gouvyas)
Wine & Soul (Guru)
Domingos Alves Sousa

Red
Casa Ferreirinha
Domingos Alves Sousa
Quinta Vale Dona Maria

João Rico
Portugal

Red :
Quinta do Carolina
Quinta do Vale Meao
Ramos Pinto(especially for the Reserva Especial)


White :
Wine & Soul (Guru)
Quinta do Valado
Sogrape(their reserva is quite good)

So far, this is an excellent list. I hope people keep adding to it.

Roy Hersh wrote:Who are your top 3 producers for dry white and red wines from the Douro?

Red:
Quinta do Vale Meao
Quinta do Vale Dona Maria
Wine & Soul (Pintas)
(Poeira, Vallado, and Ramos Pinto are in the same class)

White (This is practically impossible for me):
...
...
OK. I give up. I don't have enough experience with these.

-Dave-

Red:

Quinta do Vale Dona Maria
Quinta do Vallado

White:

I'm not sure I have even had one, outside of a cask sample at Quinta do Vale Dona Maria which was still fermenting.

Jay

As I have mentioned to several producers on our most recent trip, the Douro white wine area, is by far the area with the greatest current growth potential. Most non-Portuguese citizens would have trouble naming 3 producers of Douro white wine and that goes for people who have been to the region!

It truly is the area in which I have personally tried encouraging planting and bottling of white wine in discussions with Douro growers and producers. I think that there is still a ton of white wine enjoyed not only in Portugal, but around the world.

When we think of whites from Portugal, most obviously think of Vinho Verde, Dao and Alentejo region's white wines. Of course the Vinho Verde now in possession of its own appellation, which produces 20% of the harvested grapes in Portugal is led by the Alvarinho (my favorite!!!), as well as lesser known grape names like Loureiro, Trajadura, Pederna etc.

But back to my love for the wines of the Douro and the budding whites which come from the predominant castas (= grape varietals) Malvasia Fina, Rabigato, Moscatel, Viosinho, Codega, Gouveio and Donzelinho grapes all work wonders in the Douro whites.

Here are a handful of enjoyable whites from the Douro:
Duas Quintas Branco
Quinta do Portal Moscatel
Vilar de Galeira
Vinha da Pala Reserva
Pocas Coroa

Enjoy!

Roy Hersh wrote:So far, this is an excellent list. I hope people keep adding to it.

Well I could add to it, but my three favorites have already been mentioned . . . .

Reds:
o Quinta do Vale Meao
o Casa Ferreirinha
o Wine & Soul

Whites:
o Not enough experience, unfortunately...

Marco,

I am surprised that is the case. Why not go to your local shop and grab a bottle of the Churchill's White Port. It is under $20 per bottle and makes a great summer sipper when nice and chilled.



Jay,

I could swear we had a few white Ports on the trip. Next time we are together I will make sure to bring a few along. Or ... join Andy and experience them in person.

We did have a few white ports, but only the one dry white wine to my recollection (the cask sample at Quinta do Vale Donna Maria). Of course, I may have simply forgot...I had a hard enough time focusing on all the Port and dry red wine!

Jay

I had a hard enough time focusing on all the Port and dry red wine!

Because you were checking out the Portuguese women?

Because I was overwhelmed with the multiplicity of port choices we were faced with...Things always got a little hazy by the end of the day! That will happen when you start drinking port at 9AM!

Jay

Jay Powers wrote:That will happen when you start drinking port at 9AM!

Sounds like a near PERFECT day to me!!!