O artigo que escreve sobre a visita denuncia a surpresa ao descobrir que esta pequena região também oferece grandes vinhos. Algo que rapidamente transmite com o título “Alentejo, the land where most corks come from, delivers great wine too”.

Após uma breve e curiosa perspectiva pessoal da região, Michael partilha o que aprendeu sobre a divisão em sub-regiões, as castas, os vinhos e a diferença entre um D.O.C. e um Vinho Regional Alentejano:

“Within the Alentejo region, where temperatures are high and rainfall is low, there are eight subregions: Borba, Evora, Granja-Amareleja, Moura, Portalegre, Redondo, Reguengos and Vidigueira. When a wine hails from one of these places and falls in line with the D.O.C. regulations, it is labeled “DOC Alentejo” no matter which subregion it calls home. That same wine is also allowed to carry the name of its subregion on its label.

Wines that have strayed from the D.O.C. winemaking rules — say, by using nonpermitted grapes or varying the allowed percentages — are labeled “Vinho Regional Alentejano,” which identifies them as wines from the larger region. This does not make them any less interesting, any less tasty or any less prestigious than wine stamped “D.O.C.” In fact, as we have seen in other countries, experimentation with blends can lead to more interesting wines.”

A prova que fez aquando da visita deixou o repórter igualmente surpreendido:

“A recent tasting stirred up several pleasant surprises. For a wine region that is not on the tip of everyone’s tongue, Alentejo delivers well-made, tasty offerings that are also on the lower end of the price scale. The red wines in this tasting clocked in at 14 percent alcohol or higher, so make sure to pace yourself and savor each sip.”

Da prova fizeram parte os nossos 4 Castas 2012 e Esporão Reserva 2013, cuja nota de prova se pode ler no fim do artigo.

Artigo completo, aqui.