Portugal

As the holiday season approaches, we're all hearing more and more talk about best-value purchasing.  Consumers want to stretch their dollars as far as they can go – without sacrificing quality

Ribatejo is named for the banks of the Tejo (Tagus) River, which divides this wine region from northeast to southwest.  This part of Portugal is known not only for wine but also for Lusitano horses and for Mertolengo cattle, both raised for use in Portuguese-style bullfighting.  Ribatejo is Portugal's second-largest wine region, but the DO as a whole is still struggling to forge an identity.

Bairrada has a long tradition of producing wines from just one grape.  Until recently, the region's wines were made primarily from the baga grape, often by traditional methods.  Producers crushed grapes with feet and left the stems on during the production process.  The region's fortunes changed for the better in 1991, when Portugal joined the European Union and modernization of Bairrada's wineries began in earnest.  Today you will find both producers that use modern, sometimes even über-modern methods and winemakers dedicated to traditional practices.  Happily, when conditions are right, both traditionalists and progressive winemakers can achieve excellent results.

Alentejo is Portugal's largest political region, encompassing about one-third of the country.  It's also the least densely populated region in Portugal.  About 10 percent of Alentejo is devoted to vineyards.  Much of the rest is used for growing cereal grains and olives.