PORTUGUESE WINE TASTING ON SATURDAY FEB. 25, FROM 1:30-3:30 – Join us!
On Saturday, February 25, Rui Abecassis from Olé&Obrigado wines will be in Paris-Madrid Grocery to pour wine samples from their Portuguese portfolio. Since 2010, Rui has been building a curated collection of wines honoring the places, grapes, and winegrowers of Portugal. Rui now lives in Lisbon, actively working with Portuguese producers, committed to importing accessible yet compelling artisanal wines that deliver a sense of place. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about and sample delicious Portuguese wines!
Wines to be tasted include:
Caves São João Rosé Bruto Bairrada 2020 ($19.99) Bairrada is the preeminent region for world-class sparkling wine. The vineyards are planted 20km from the ocean, battered by the northern Atlantic winds for which the area is well known. Méthode traditionnelle gives this wine a soft, silky texture, combined with the floral tones and bright fruit of its indigenous varietals – 60% Baga, 40% Touriga Naçional.
Asnella Single Vineyard Vinho Verde Branco 2020 ($17.99) This single vineyard wine is worlds away from the easy-drinking, slightly sweet and bubbly Vinho Verdes. One sip and you’ll discover how satisfying a serious white wine from this region is.
Fitapreta Carta de Fitapreta, Alentejo 2020 ($19.99) Antonio Maçanita’s Fitapreta estate has pushed the boundaries of what fine winemaking can be in this region, and has become a benchmark for the New Portugal. Maçanita works only with indigenous varieties and showcases his estate’s terroir by farming organically without irrigation, harvesting by hand at night, deliberate bunch sorting in the winery, and native yeast fermentation. Through his commitment to these principles, he can craft wines that represent sunny Alentejo, but which have a balance and freshness unmatched by others in the region. 50% Aragonez (Tempranillo), 30% Touriga Nacional, 20% Alicante Bouschet aged 50% in stainless steel and 50% in used French oak for 10 months. Vegan.
Macanita Douro Tinto 2019 ($29.99) Joana Maçanita (Antonio Maçanita’s sister) is a dynamo. Her project in the Douro Valley is a perfect showcase for her full-speed-ahead, accept-no-substitutes style. Joana sources from old vineyards spread across the three subzones of the Douro Valley. In search of freshness and minerality above all else, Joana uses classic Douro grape varieties, sourced from plots planted at high altitudes. The wines that result are balanced, elegant, and a transparent expression of true Douro terroir. 55% Touriga Naçional, 25% old-vine field blend (80+ years), and 20% Sousão. Vines planted to schist and granitic soils at 200-600m (650-2,000 ft) elevation. Vine age ranges from 20-80+ years old. Hand harvested. cold soak fermentation using wild yeasts, with 20 days maceration. Aged for 12 months, 100% in stainless steel.