There is a band from Alaska named “Portugal. The Man,” but if all truth be known, I think I would prefer “Portugal. The Tasting.” Wine tasting, that is. The band’s big hit was called “Feel It Still,” but I think we should all go with “Taste It Still”. Enough of the band analogies, lets get to the wine.
Portugal is home to over 250 native grape varieties. These are referred to as “Autochthonous Grapes,” since they are indigenous to the place where they are found. Most of the grapes found in Portugal are not found or planted in other regions of the world.
Winemaking in Portugal comes from the traditions that were introduced by ancient civilizations. Exports of wine to Rome started during the Roman Empire and modern exports developed with trade to England in the early 1700s. Portugal boasts of over 250 indigenous grape varieties, along with some imported vines that were suited for the Portuguese climate and terrain.
