Portugal Rewritten: Indigenous Grapes, Modern Vision, Old-Vine Soul

Lately, a pattern has been emerging at Waterford. Clients head to Portugal, fall hard for the light, the food, the coastline—and return talking just as passionately about the wines. And almost without exception, they add the same surprised caveat: not the Port.

For generations, Portuguese wine abroad meant fortified wine. Iconic, yes—but incomplete. What today’s travelers (and adventurous drinkers) are discovering is a country in the midst of a quiet but profound wine revolution. Over the past decade, Portugal has turned inward and forward at the same time: recommitting to its extraordinary library of indigenous grape varieties, embracing thoughtful innovation, and farming with an eye toward the future rather than the past.

As Frederico Falcão, President of ViniPortugal, has noted, Portugal may be the most exciting destination for wine lovers feeling boxed in by the global sameness of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay—or, just as intriguingly, for those who love those grapes and want to see what greatness looks like outside the usual lanes. With hundreds of native varieties and an astonishing range of styles, Portugal offers freshness, character, and authenticity in every glass.

We’ve been watching this transformation closely, long before it became fashionable, and we can say this with confidence: Portugal’s dry red and white wines are some of the most compelling, expressive, and delicious being made anywhere today. Dramatic landscapes, old vines, Atlantic tension, mountain austerity—it’s all there.

But the only way to understand it is to taste it. Come explore the New Portugal with us.

Wines: TBA.

All prices listed reflect regular retail. Significant discounts will be offered on all wines tasted. Due to the highly allocated nature of some selections, wines may change without notice.

Charcuterie boards are now available in Delafield.