2023 Herdade do Sobroso AnAs Tinto

Alentejo is located in southeastern Portugal, southeast of Ribatejo and north of the Algarve. You can drive for miles between the cork oaks and the olive groves, lavender meadows, and sunflowers without seeing a single person or house. In May, before the drought and heat of summer hit, the Alentejo is strikingly green and beautiful. The landscape is hilly, and it is often these slopes that give the vineyards their name. They invariably always start with Monte, unlike the wines from the north of Portugal, which usually start with the word Quinta.

More information about Alentejo

The Alentejo wine region is called the 'California of Portugal'. Alentejo is big, hot, and progressive. Hundreds of top winemakers have revived the forgotten vineyards. The region is best known for its reds and is divided into eight sub-regions: Portalegre, Borba, Redondo, Vidigueira, Reguengos, Mouros, Évora, and Granja-Amareleja. Although each region has its own climate, soil, and regulations, they are all labeled as Alentejo DOC. Today, the wines enjoy a good reputation, and the wines are sold in Portugal for fairly high prices. The Alentejo has attracted considerable attention from the wine press around the world for its impressive quality wines. The Alentejo is one of the most prominent wine regions in Portugal, covering a significant portion of the country's southern interior. This region is known for its vast landscapes, warm climate, and fertile soil, making it an ideal location for winemaking. In the Alentejo, you can experience the California of Portugal, a place where winemaking is thriving, and the wines are gaining international recognition.

Alentejo's subregions

As it says in the tekst above the Alentejo wine region is divides into eight sub regions. Each with its own distinctive characteristics and wine styles. Here's an overview of some of the notable sub-regions within Alentejo:

Portalegre: Located in the northern part of Alentejo, Portalegre is known for its higher altitudes and cooler climate, which results in wines with freshness and elegance. The Serra de São Mamede mountains influence the region's terroir. Some producers in Portalegre focus on crafting high-quality red wines.

Borba: Borba is one of the traditional wine-producing areas in Alentejo. It is characterized by rolling plains and a warm climate. Wines from Borba often display ripe fruit flavors and a smooth, easy-drinking style.

Redondo: Redondo, situated in the central part of Alentejo, has a Mediterranean climate and fertile soils. This region is known for producing both red and white wines, with an emphasis on red wines made from native and international grape varieties.

Vidigueira: Vidigueira is located in the southern part of Alentejo and benefits from a warm and dry climate. This region is known for its production of white wines, with a focus on indigenous white grape varieties like Antão Vaz. The wines are often fresh and aromatic.

Reguengos: Reguengos de Monsaraz is situated in the central-south Alentejo and is recognized for its modern winemaking techniques. The region produces a variety of wines, including reds, whites, and rosés. The wines from Reguengos are known for their approachability.

Mouros: Mouros is located in the southern part of Alentejo, near the town of Moura. It is known for its historical vineyards and traditional winemaking methods. The region's wines often have a rustic and authentic character.

Évora: Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage city, is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. The region produces a range of wines, with a focus on reds and whites. Évora's wines are characterized by their balance and structure.

Granja-Amareleja: Located in the southernmost part of Alentejo, Granja-Amareleja has a hot and dry climate. The region is known for producing robust and full-bodied red wines, often made from Aragonez (Tempranillo) and Trincadeira grape varieties.

Alentejo's grape varieties

The Alentejo region in Portugal is renowned for its wide range of grape varieties used in winemaking, both indigenous and international. Some of the notable grape varieties cultivated in this region include:

Aragonez (Tempranillo): Aragonez, known locally as Tempranillo, is a widely planted red grape variety. It is prized for its ability to produce rich and flavorful red wines with excellent aging potential.

Trincadeira: Trincadeira is another significant indigenous red grape variety in the Alentejo. It is frequently included in red wine blends, contributing to the region's full-bodied and aromatic red wines.

Castelão: Also referred to as Periquita, Castelão is another indigenous grape variety with a reputation for versatility. It is commonly used in red wine production, enhancing the depth and character of the wines.

Touriga Nacional: While Touriga Nacional is more commonly associated with the Douro Valley, it is also cultivated in the Alentejo. This grape variety is instrumental in producing high-quality red wines with complex flavors.

Alicante Bouschet: This unique grape variety is known for its deep color and intense flavors. It is frequently used in the production of full-bodied red wines in the Alentejo.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz: These international grape varieties are also grown in the Alentejo and are sometimes utilized to create modern and international-style red wines.

Arinto (Pedernã), Perrum (Palomino Fino), Antão Vaz, and Roupeiro: These are some of the white grape varieties cultivated in the Alentejo, contributing to the creation of fresh and aromatic white wines.

The Alentejo's diverse range of grape varieties allows winemakers to craft an extensive array of wine styles, from full-bodied reds to fresh and aromatic whites. The region's warm climate and fertile soil provide an ideal environment for grape cultivation, resulting in high-quality wines with unique and distinct characteristics.

Portugal as a wine country distinguishes itself by mainly producing wines from its own grape varieties. The Portuguese wines are also developing well and quickly, so it is certainly interesting for wine lovers to try some different wines from this beautiful country. When Portugal joined the EU in 1986, the quality of Portuguese wines immediately increased enormously.

It was then stimulated to start vineyards and produce wine. As a result, the large umbrella wine producers were sidelined and many smaller wine producers started to work for themselves.

Today, therefore, more than a thousand winemakers can be found in Portugal. The Douro wine region is one of the examples of such a wine region that has undergone tremendous development since accession to the EU. In the past, mainly a sweet Port was produced here, but gradually the wineries in this region have kept up with the times and are increasingly experimenting with different grapes. The result of this is that they now also produce a lot of dry quality wines in this region. A not so well known wine region in Portugal is the wine region Beiras. In this region, a lot of red Portuguese wines are produced on a steep slope. These wines can often be stored for decades and even then they do not lose their taste. A grape variety that is widely used in this region is the Baga grape. This grape is powerful and has strong acids that can be softened by mixing the grapes with other types of grapes. All in all, Portuguese wine producers often use the native grape varieties . This is not difficult since there are about 500 different grape varieties in Portugal. Partly because of this, the winemakers can make their own unique wine and do not have to compete with other wine countries, such as Chile.

Red wine is made from blue grapes. The wines get their dark colour from the skin of the grape, which ferments with the grape juice. The intensity of the colour is determined by how long the juice has matured; a young red wine will have a somewhat purple colour, while older wines tend to be more orange or brown-red.

With around 10,000 varieties of grapes worldwide, you can go in all directions.

The most well-known blue grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Syrah / Shiraz.

Types of red wine

There are many different types of grapes with different characteristics and aromas. The differences within grape varieties are due to the difference in climate, the soil where the vines are planted, and the amount of sun.

The end result is in the hands of the winemaker. During the process from juice to wine, the winemaker still has a lot of options to change the final product into what he wants to put on the market.

The upbringing of the wine plays a major role in this. After fermentation, the process of raising and maturing the wine begins. There are many options for influencing the wine, but the most well-known concerns the ageing in wood.

If the winemaker chooses to raise the wine on wood, many things come into play. The first choice is whether new or older barrels will be used. Older, used barrels release less or no more aromas and tannins, but they still have an oxidative function. New wood barrels let in dosed oxygen and ensure that the wine has aromas and tannins. This is more intense with smaller barrels than with large wooden barrels.

Dry red wine

The most famous red wine is a dry red wine. The number of grape varieties and different taste profiles are enormous. There is a nice glass of red for every moment.

Sweet red wine

Just like sweet white wine, there is sweet red wine too! They are a lot rarer than dry red wines. If you want to try something different, it's definitely worth a try.

Alcohol-free red wine

Non-alcoholic wine is becoming more and more popular. Whether it is red non-alcoholic wine, white non-alcoholic wine, or sparkling non-alcoholic wine, more and more attention is being paid to it. Perfect for a cosy drink during pregnancy, or during a non-alcoholic month!

Red wine Gift

Red wine is fun to give, and even more fun to receive! Grandcruwijnen has ready-made wine gifts to make your gift recipient happy ;)

If you have your eye on a bottle of wine, at Grandcruwijnen we also have gift packaging to complete your gift! If you've found something you like, you can easily add a gift card during checkout.

Buy red wine online

At Grandcruwijnen you can easily buy red wine online. In our range, you will find products from the well-known grape varieties. If you want to buy a nice red wine, you have come to the right place at Grandcruwijnen. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us!

The Alicante Bouschet is a blue grape variety, with the very special characteristic that it has red flesh. This is called teinturier. It is a cross between the Grenache Noir and the Petit Bouschet.

What does wine from the Alicante Bouschet grape taste like?

Alicante Bouschet has a very distinct flavor profile. The wines made from this grape often have aromas of blackcurrants, plums, blackberries and black pepper. The tannins are generally firm and provide a long finish. Due to the high acidity of the grape, wines from Alicante Bouschet are also very suitable for storage.

Cabernet Sauvignon is a red grape variety. The Cabernet Sauvignon is a very well-known grape and gives a full flavour and a dark colour. The ripening process is very important.

The Cabernet Sauvignon grape

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most recognized grape varieties for red wine. The grapes are grown in almost every major wine-producing country in a wide spectrum of climates, from Australia, Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, to even China. 

Although the grapes are grown worldwide, most Cabernet Sauvignon grapes come from France, Chile, Australia and South Africa.

The Cabernet Sauvignon grape ripens late, which is why it thrives best in warm climates. In Bordeaux it is just fine, especially in the relatively warm Entre-Deux Mer and on the dry gravel soils of Médoc and Graves. 

What does a Cabernet Sauvignon wine taste like?

The Cabernet Sauvignon is the most well-behaved boy in the vineyard. He rarely abandons his owner. A Cabernet Sauvignon always gives scents and flavors of blackcurrant and spicy aromas. The difference of which aromas emerge is decided during the maturation process. If a Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in small wooden barrels, then more aromas of coffee, spices and toast will come to the fore.

What temperature should you drink Cabernet Sauvignon?

Over the occasion, a red wine should be drunk at a temperature slightly cooler than room temperature. A Cabernet Sauvignon's ideal serving temperature is 16°C, but the aromas of the wine will come out well between 15 and 18°C. 

Syrah, also called Shiraz, is a dark-skinned red wine grape variety known for producing bold, full-bodied wines with intense flavors. Here's what you need to know about this grape:

Origin

Syrah's origins date back to the Rhône Valley in France, especially in regions such as Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie. It is one of the most important grapes in the renowned wines of the Northern Rhône. The exact origins of the grape are still debated, but it is believed to have ancient roots in the Middle East. However, genetic research shows that the grape originates from two grape varieties from southeastern France - Dureza and Mondeuse blanche

The taste of Syrah

The wines are known for their rich, dark fruit flavors such as blackberry, black cherry and plum. They often have notes of black pepper, smoked meat, violet and sometimes earthy undertones. The flavor profile can vary depending on factors such as climate, soil and winemaking techniques. In cooler climates this grape produces wines with more pepper and floral notes while in warmer climates it produces richer and fruitier notes, sometimes with coffee and chocolate notes. It pairs well with grilled meat, especially lamb and beef, in dishes such as stews or on the barbecue. It also goes well with cheeses such as aged cheddar or blue cheese.

Characteristics of Syrah

Syrah is known for its adaptability to various soil types and climates, making it a sustainable choice for vineyard cultivation. Additionally, many wine producers are adopting sustainable and organic practices in both vineyard management and winemaking.

Many Syrah wines have excellent aging potential, particularly those from the Northern Rhône. With proper cellaring, they can develop more complexity and soften over time, while retaining their fruitiness and structure.