What springs to your mind when you think of the Algrave region in Portugal...Sun, Heat, All Day Breakfasts in Albufeira, Golf, Chicken Piri Piri, Beaches, Cliff Richard, Massive Water Slide Parks almost sums it up.
However, beneath the surface there is so much more to explore and find out..ancient towns surrounded by forts, great restaurants hidden away, fantastic people and of course superb wine!
Wine? Did I type that correctly????
As you may know the majority of the wine that you can drink in The Algarve comes from the regions to the north..Alentejo, Dao and Douro to name the major ones...but there is a rising star..and that is the wine from the Algarvian region itself, for many years left by the wayside as tourism rose at an alarming rate.
Now there are a few "pioneers" who are bringing back the great tradition of Algarve wines and one of the forerunners is Quinta dos Vales in Estombar just off the N-125 (surrounded by golf courses and water parks). What they have created is testament to hard work and concentrating on very high quality wines. Having garnered over 20 International Medals since March 2010 you know they are on the right track!
I cannot wait to get my hands on these wines and introduce them to the UK Market...ever since I stumbled upon them in July I have salivated at this prospect...and soon it wil come to fruition...be ready UK and prepare your taste buds for pure joy!
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Wine Hunter
There's nothing like the feeling of tracking down a new wine or vineyard that has not been to the U.K. before. However, it is the hunt I enjoy! There are thousands of vineyards out there waiting to be found and to find the right ones can be a minefield.
Size is important in this game. If the vineyard is large then there is more likelihood that it aleady in many markets and you will lose your unique selling point. Quality is always the most important factor and is also the most enjoyable stage of the hunt (having to sample many wines is always a chore....not!). Although the quality has to be matched to the price and this is when the palpitations of excitement go into overdrive as I discover a real "catch" of quality mixed with a very good price.
The end of the hunt hopefully will be the culmination of a lot of hard and dedicated work to that the wines are of such a high quality but at the same time the price shows tremendous value for money. Then to unleash the wines onto the U.K. market and to see people's reactions to such fantastic finds is always the goal!
Size is important in this game. If the vineyard is large then there is more likelihood that it aleady in many markets and you will lose your unique selling point. Quality is always the most important factor and is also the most enjoyable stage of the hunt (having to sample many wines is always a chore....not!). Although the quality has to be matched to the price and this is when the palpitations of excitement go into overdrive as I discover a real "catch" of quality mixed with a very good price.
The end of the hunt hopefully will be the culmination of a lot of hard and dedicated work to that the wines are of such a high quality but at the same time the price shows tremendous value for money. Then to unleash the wines onto the U.K. market and to see people's reactions to such fantastic finds is always the goal!
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