Society's Portuguese Case

Fresh, round and fruity, with the merest hint of spritz, this is a popular, easy-drinking style from northern Portugal, the blend tending to be around half each of alvarinho and trajadura. The Society`s Vinho Verde, made by the highly regarded Adega de Monção co-operative, comes from vineyards overlooking the border with Spain along the beautiful Minho river in the Monção e Melgaço sub region. This is delicious with shellfish or light lunches, and it is such seafood staples of the region that appear on the smart new label in the shape of the polvo, AKA octopus, that is so much enjoyed with Vinho Verde up and down the Portuguese coast.

Produced for us by Quinta do Vale Meão, who are situated towards the eastern picturesque and more rugged end of the Douro Valley, this is a blend of predominantly touriga franca with around 15% of baga blended in. Traditionally foot-trodden, then aged in seasoned barriques to enhance its rock-rose perfume and wild-cherry fruit. This is a perfumed, generous and deep red, which combines intense dark fruit with lifted aromatics of rose petal and lavender. The palate is broad but silky, with layers of dark berry fruit flavours. The century-old winery has been totally refurbished, adding modern winemaking equipment but retaining the tradition of old granite lagares, where these grapes are trodden.

From family-owned Casa Ermelinda Freitas, south-east of Lisbon, this friendly red combines local castelão, which is all juicy red fruits, with Alicante Bouschet, which brings darker black fruit and fleshiness. Casa Ermelinda Freitas is a significant family-owned company established in 1920 and run by successive generations of dynamic women. This is a supple, juicy red to enjoy on its own or with a host of dishes. A good, honest, easy-drinking house red which has proven a real hit with Society members.