Great Wines of Portugal

Portugal doesn’t play by anyone else’s rules, and thank Endovelicus for that. In this class, we explore a country that has been quietly making some of Europe’s most thrilling wines for centuries, while everyone else was too busy talking about France, Italy, and Spain. We’ll start in the north with Vinho Verde, where crisp, sea-sprayed whites meet granite soils and Atlantic breezes. Then it’s down the Douro, where ancient terraces and brutal heat forge Port—and a new generation of dry reds that taste like nothing else on earth. From there, we’ll wander into the wilds of Dão, Bairrada, and Alentejo, where native grapes like Touriga Nacional, Baga, and Arinto show off just how deep Portugal’s bench really is. This is a journey through tradition and rebellion—monks, merchants, and modern winemakers all rewriting what Portuguese wine can be. Expect surprises. Expect power and grace. And expect to fall in love with a country that never stopped being original.