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Everything Broad Ripple HomearrowRandom Ripplings Homearrow2011 03 04arrowColumn

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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v08n05)
The Wine Scene - by Jill A. Ditmire
posted: Mar. 04, 2011

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Jill's Excellent Adventure: Portugal

I had the great fortune to be part of a press/wine industry tour of the Vinho Verde (VEEN-YO VAIRD) region of Portugal the first week of February. Our group of 8 (journalists and wine industry folks from all over the US) based in Porto but each morning we left our hotel at 9am to explore the Minho (MEAN-YO) region.
The wines of Vinho Verde are mostly white blends that are served young to be fresh and lively. They do grow a few red grapes that make a rather astringent, acidic red wine that really needs food to make it palatable. Our 15 hour touring days took us all over the Vinho Verde region, visiting wineries and businesses. My days started just after sunrise as I walked/ran the streets of historic Porto to clear my mind and take in the beauty of this city where history is adored and modernity in structure and design is taken with deep thought. The streets are still narrow and many cobble stoned.
I took copious notes at each of the 14 wineries we visited in 4 days but won't bore you with all of them. Each night when we returned to the hotel I would send an email to my family and a few wine friends with highlights and notes of the day. I will share some of those thoughts with you over my next few columns.

Sunday Feb 6

export wines out of the country with much of its production going to Germany and France with some box wine blends sold in Brazil. Not available in the US. The winery is located next to a stream in a wooded, hilly area that the morning of our visit was in bloom with camilla's and magnolia trees. The sun was shining and it was a glorious location to taste wine and then drink the wines over lunch. We sampled 9 of their wines including some red Vinho Verde wines-vinhao (VIN-YOW).. and also Padeiro( PUH-DARE-OH).. both really remind me of Chambourcin-French-American hybrid we grow in Indiana. We drank the wines with lunch that started with broa (BRO-UH) bread (corn, rye, wheat grains made like Indiana cornbread (YUMEEE) with a tuna/onion/mayo spread--then salty oven roasted potatoes (like mini yukon gold's in flavor and density) and "cabbage" (turns out to be turnip green tops), more like broccoli rabe.. and goat and pig. (LOTS of goat and pig. The Portuguese LOVE their "other white meat")
Next stop was a small family owned winery set among the mountains, Quinta da Raza. We arrived at sunset and the view of the vineyards was breathtaking. The owners invited us into their home to taste their wines and sample a splendid array of local cheeses and a modern twist on the traditional Portugese dish, bacalhau (BOCK-UH-LA). Bacalhau is a salt dried cod that is usually served drenched in Portuguese olive oil to give it some flavor. At Quinta da Raza, the cooks prepared it like a deep fried potato/cod ball. It was the tastiest form of bacalhau on the trip. The wines were lovely as well. Right now they are not available in the US but since I returned I have emailed with the winemaker and given him names of some local importers and distributors so lets hope the wines of Quinta da Raza find their way to Indiana.
Our last tasting was at Quinta de Gomariz. These folks do import to US in Utah and Pennsylvania.
Nice wines. Very fresh vinho verde and lush lemony/mineral stones in several of the other whites including Grand Escola - a blend that was delish. The red here was more of a barnyard nose with softer tannins. OK, but still an acquired taste. Dinner at a small restaurant owned by a family called Paiteo das Figueiras. Very traditional and a great spread. Cheeses, an eggplant/meat/spice pate on toast, soft bread stuffed with sheep's milk cheese and ham, fried meatballs... then a savory potato leek soup. And the Chila Pie (brown sugar/pastry/a winter squash--traditional) and creme brulee. Next to pig, the Portuguese LOVE their sugar!

NEXT ISSUE: More wine, food and fun from Portugal.



Jill A. Ditmire is an Omnimedia wine specialist, AWS certified wine judge, freelance broadcast journalist and 20+ year home owner in the Warfleigh neighborhood of Broad Ripple. Send your questions and comments to Jill at jill@broadripplegazette.com
Also on INSTAGRAM @jaditmire




jill@broadripplegazette.com
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