Portugal''s climate, soil and excellent varieties of traditional grapes have helped make this small country a world leader. Portugal is renowned for producing quality wine, but its reputation is not based solely on popular table wines. Portis a wine fortified with brandy spirit and aged for extended periods of time. The popular wine is always sweet, and comes in a variety of flavors and price levels.
Spain ranks number three behind France and Italy in wine production, but many will argue it''s the undisputed leader in quality. Spanish wines offer history and tradition, which are combined with modern winemaking technology to produce vintages of unique character.
Spain produces eleven varieties of wine from more than forty regions, ranging from the generous dry wines to the sparkling wines, the ros and the valuable Gran Reservas. You can find a Spanish wine for just about every occasion and every type of meal.
If you''re not fluent in Spanish, here are four important terms that will help you in selecting the perfect Spanish wine:
Travel opportunities are virtually unlimited in both Spain and Portugal, and with the use of the rail system, tourists can easily visit multiple regions of each country. The Minho Valley is a popular destination for many wine connoisseurs. Linking northern Portugal and Spanish Galicia, the Minho Valley is among the world''s last great concentrations of small family-owned vineyards.
In addition to traditional wine tours and annual festivals, bike tours are also very popular in this region. The Minho countryside makes for fine bike riding, with views of woods, fields, stone walls, river valleys, and quaint villages. As the vineyards are close together, travelers can visit several vineyards in one day.