I’ve done the Douro, been all around the Alentejo and even ventured into the vinho verde vineyards of Minho. So, I suppose it’s time to further fill the gaps in my knowledge of Portuguese wine with some time in the river valley wine region of Tejo.
A recent tasting of wines from Tejo held at Taberna do Mercado (one of favourite places to eat in London) provided the perfect inspiration to get moving on a visit to this little celebrated part of Portugal producing some beautiful wines well worth seeking out.
The region is home to more than 80 wineries, many of which have been family owned for generations, and stretches from the outskirts of Lisbon along the Tejo River to the Spanish border.
Among the handful of producers represented at the tasting, I especially was smitten with the offering from Quinta da Lagoalva de Cima’s Grande Escolha 2011. Made with little known indigenous varietal, Alfrocheiro, it had a tobacco nose and spiced palate and went down exceptionally well with the suckling pig served for the occasion. Another wine that wowed was the fortified Moscatel Paciencia Tagus Doc 2016 with raisin and orange peel tones proved a proper quaff to end on.
Both these and all the wines sampled represented enormously good value for money. The Grande Escolha is priced around £25 and the Paciencia should run you more than a tenner.
For lots more info about Tejo wines go to winesoftejo.com.
Taberna do Mercado is located at Old Spitalfields Market, 107B Commercial Street, E1 6BG. Find out more at tabernamercado.co.uk.
