Autochthonous grape varieties, unique terroirs and passionate winemakers are some of Portugal's secrets.
Portugal is one of the few wine countries where ancient methods are still used for winemaking today. The most famous example is certainly the lagares: large, shallow fermentation tanks made of concrete, granite or stainless steel in which the grapes are stomped and crushed with the feet. The tannins are extracted particularly gently in this way, giving the wines a unique, velvety tannin structure. Another ancient winemaking method is the talhas, amphora-like vessels made of earthenware or clay, which are mainly used in the Alentejo region. They almost disappeared in the course of cellar modernization, as they were considered unnecessary. For a good 20 years, however, they have been experiencing a renaissance thanks to their ability to produce elegant, pure wines. Just as traditional as these two winemaking techniques is the impressive pergola cultivation in the lush Vinho Verde region. In the past, the vines here grew up trees so that vegetables could be planted at ground level. Today, the vines still climb up pergolas up to four meters high in some places.
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