Vamos Falar De Portugal
Have you ever dreamed that your small, cramped apartment had doors leading to rooms you somehow never knew about? As a wine lover that is what exploring Portugal now feels like: opening the door to a whole other world of wine that you never knew existed. This includes centuries-old vineyards, dramatically distinct topography, and learning about grape varieties I've never heard of. After nearly twenty years working in wine (gasp), it is humbling and a bit overwhelming to find a country that is so rich in wine tradition as to require me to do a serious amount of homework. But who am I kidding? Wine homework is pretty fun, especially if it includes traveling to Portugal. I went in 2022 and again in 2025 and I saw more and more natural wine, wine bars, and restaurants that both inspired and spoiled me for eating and drinking at three times the price in NYC.
This month, come with us as we explore the only country to defy the global downturn in wine production and consumption. We've got a lineup of some of the names who have ushered in this exciting era of Portuguese wines.
Read more in this month's Direct Press.
By Jonathan Kemp
