theLAB.Porto

region

Trás-os-Montes

Behind the mountains lays a landscape that is rugged, and forgotten. Rural agriculture and dramatic landscapes roll forth and yet the people here continue to thrive. Olive trees, animals, chestnuts, and vines it's remote out here, but there is gold in them thar hills. Old vine vineyards with plots from a hundred or more years ago still produce grapes for a new generation of winemakers embracing the past with tools from today. We love this area for its purity and resilience; if you need a break from the everyday struggle, this is where you want to visit.

region

Douro

Douro the spiritual home to Port wine, one of the most nobel of beverages. Big thick and rich, so many people think that is what the Douro is and should always be, but don't be fooled. The Douro for centuries has been making light fresh and fragrant wines called "Vinho de Consumo" which has nothing to do with the tannin and oak bombs that many believe to be the regions true calling. Here at theLAB if you like oak you should probably move onto other sites, as we tend to focus on the fruit seeking out wines that showcase the huge diversity of landscapes and edging up the hills to where acidity reigns and wine is for drinking, not talking about.

region

Beira Interior

Beira Interior is the forgotten wine frontier that was once linked to the Dão and Barraida. Today, it plays host to a new generation of winemakers who are trying to tame the region's heat with vines by embracing altitude and new philosophies. The future is bright, though the location is far. Through the austere beauty and rural landscapes, we believe we will launch a new generation of wines made in traditional ways.

region

Dão

The Dão is a region full of mystery, not because anyone is hiding anything but because it is so far from Porto and Lisbon. Nestled up against the Serra da Estrela mountain, this is a place that long ago gave birth to grapes like Baga and Touriga Nacional. Unfortunately, for decades in the 20th century, the Co-ops kept quantity up and quality down, but that didn't stop this region from coming back to life. Today, there is a revival of traditional winemaking, embracing old vine field blends and heroic winemaking. Small producers are popping up like the mushrooms that cover this part of Portugal, offering new takes on old ideas.

region

Bairrada

Home to the grape Baga, this is a place of not only the tastiest suckling pig, but also sparkling wines, elegant ethereal whites, and both rich deep reds and perfumed treats whose elegance is addicting. Limestone, clay, and sand give Bairrada a profile that is unlike most of Portugal, and while Baga is the heartbeat of the region, don't discount the long-lived whites, which age and improve for decades in the bottle. Today's winemakers here are asking what is possible in this Atlantic-influenced region and pushing the boundaries to discover what Bairrada really is.

region

Lisboa

Once almost forgotten due to its proximity to the housing boom, Lisbon and all its subregions offer a tapestry of unique wines. From the salty acid found in Colares to the palhetes of Ourém, this area is huge and impossible to sum up in one or two words. We love this region because of all the young new voices preserving old vines and rediscovering old wine-making techniques. Rich deep reds, delicate and quaffable palhetes, zingy white wines, and lots of fun, playful excursions into the world of new flavors.

region

Setúbal

Setúbal is the home to moscatel and long lived sweet wines. A region just south of Lisbon where the beaches reign surpreme and wines pair best with the local cheeses. That said, today there are a few exciting producers exploring new ideas and making wines that show that freshness is indeed possible with a diversity of grapes and landscapes. Still a long ways to go, but we have hope!

region

Alentejo

Some like to say this is the California of Portugal and sure if you drive to Evora you might mistake stretches of the road for the rolling hills of Sonoma, but you'd be missing something special. This is the land of Talha Wines, that is wines make in large clay pots often mistaken for Amphoras. These wines are time capsules that speak to a time when wines were never bottled, but drunk amoung friends straight from the vessel they were made within. The wines from Talhas are at times rustic, but always full of life and flavors that will make you stop and think. The tradition of Talha winemaking was almost completely lost just a few years ago and while they are coming back into style, we are here to make sure they continue to thrive.

region

Algarve

Setúbal is the home to moscatel and long lived sweet wines. A region just south of Lisbon where the beaches reign surpreme and wines pair best with the local cheeses. That said, today there are a few exciting producers exploring new ideas and making wines that show that freshness is indeed possible with a diversity of grapes and landscapes. Still a long ways to go, but we have hope!