Portugal's Silver Coast and Estramadura Wines
' Discover the Silver Coast '
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| The vineyards and quintas of the Estramadura on Portugal's Silver Coast produce a wide range of excellent red wines, white wines, liqueurs and spirits. Many of the wines rival those of Spain, France and the New World in quality. Produced mainly for consumption in Portugal they are rare visitors to the shelves of your local wine shops and supermarkets, and this is a unique opportunity to taste undiscovered wines, explore centuries old quintas, sample the local cuisine and stay at Praia D’El Rey on the Atlantic Coast north of Lisbon. | |||||||||
Estremadura is made up of nine Denominations of Origin: Colares, Carcavelos and Bucelas (in the south, near Lisbon), Alenquer, Arruda, Torres Vedras, Lourinhã and Óbidos (in the centre of the region) and Encostas d’Aire (in the north, close to the Beiras region). Most of the investment in the region went to the central areas (Óbidos, Arruda, Torres Vedras and Alenquer): the vines were modernised and new grape varieties were planted. Today, this region’s best DOC wines come from red grape varieties such as Castelão, Aragonez, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Miúda and Trincadeira, which are sometimes blended with the Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Franca, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes, among others. The white wines are usually made from the Arinto, Fernão Pires, Serra-Nova and Vital grape varieties, though Chardonnay is also grown in some areas. Bucelas wine This wine was very famous in the time of the French Invasions (1808-1810). Wellington was very fond of Bucelas wine and took it to England with the intention of offering it to King George III. Carcavelos wine Wellington’s troops would frequently drink this wine, took it home and, for several years, Carcavelos wine was widely exported to England. Lisbon Hock In the second half of the 16th Century, Bucelas wine was well-known in England. The English would call it “Lisbon Hock”, meaning dry white wine. Alenquer .. produces some of the most prestigious DOC wines in Estremadura both red and white. The vines are protected from the Atlantic winds, which favours the ripening of the grapes and the production of more concentrated wines. In other areas of Estremadura red wines are elegant, aromatic, rich in tannins and improve with age. White wines have a fresh and citric character. |
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One
of the best websites about the wines of Portugal and the
Estramdura/Silver Coast in particular is infovini Click
the logo and it will open in a separate window .. |
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This infovini link
will take you straight to the page where you find out about
almost all Portuguese wines, where they are made and information
on who makes them.. |
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To
download a pdf map of the Silver Coast Vineyards Click
Here |
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Buddha Eden at Quinta Loridos not far from Bombarral has vineyards, estates, many excellent wines including a super bubbly white wine all of which you can buy there. Just as interesting, or amazing, are the hundreds of Chinese marble and terracotta statues in the grounds of the Quinta. Click the Photo Album below.. |
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More
information on their website.. |
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of Buddha Eden | ||||||||
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Looking
for somewhere to stay? Our Vila dos Principes Townhouses
at Praia D'el Rey are a perfect setting
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