The Alentejo region is so large that each of its sub-regions has wines with totally different profiles, whether it's the high altitude wines of Portalegre in the north, the warm, gastronomic wines of the interior in Borba, Évora or Vidigueira, or more recently the Atlantic wines of the Alentejo coast.
Being such a vast region, there are hundreds of producers and, as such, news practically every day. Highlights include the new producers in our shop, namely the Família Margaça in the village of Pias and the relaunch of a brand with a long tradition in the region, Encostas de Enxoé.
Also new is the Encosta do Guadiana brand from a reference producer in the region, Herdade do Paço do Conde, and the wines from Monte dos Perdigões, with the Monte dos Perdigões, Tapada do Fidalgo, Tapada do Barão and top-of-the-range Poliphonia brands.
Dirk Niepoort's foray to the south is also a highlight. The Niepoort Copo Alegre and Niepoort Sempar wines leave us wondering if Dirk is working his magic after leaving his comfort zone in the Douro and heading to Bairrada and Dão, with wines that are already a landmark in the region.
Curiosity was piqued by the release of the top-of-the-range Herdade do Rocim Vinha da Micaela, supposedly the vineyard from which the Júpiter wine came, which entered the market at over 1,000 euros, and also the Maese Grande Reserve, by winemaker Andrés Herrera, which entered the market at over 4,000 euros. These seemingly stratospheric prices, but for a wine lover, only after tasting can you tell if the price is right or not.
The Alentejo is perhaps the most dynamic region in terms of new launches, so take a look at our recommendations or check out all the new wines in shop.
