FOOD AND DRINK: Refreshing whites and full-bodied reds from Portugal

Talking about this year's holidays to friends, a river cruise up the Douro River in Portugal came high on the list.

I've not been on a river cruise but have driven several times up the wine regions of the Douro.

My first visit to Oporto was intended to include a visit to Bruce Guimaraens, then head of Fonseca Port, who has relations in Rotherham and was a pupil at Rotherham Grammar School during the second world war.

However, arriving at Oporto, I found he had sadly passed away so, after a couple of days around the port lodges of Oporto, I decided to visit some of the wineries in the lush northern part of Portugal, by staying at Braga and later visit some of the wineries of the Douro.

The air has the cooling breezes of the Atlantic Ocean, producing those crisp, aromatic and refreshing Vinho Verde white wines.

The grape varieties are usually the Alvarinho in the slightly warmer parts and the Loureiro and Arinto in the fresher, cooler parts.

Drink chilled with fish, salads or on its own.

Try some of these:

• Waitrose Blueprint Vinho Verde 2024 9.5% ( £7.50) - Crisp, lightly aromatic, citrus and apple flavours and refreshing spritz.
• Taste the Difference Vinho Verde 2025, Manuel Lopo de Carvalho 9% (Sainsburys £7.75) - From a blend of five grape varieties, this is fresh, floral,apple and citrus.
• Morrisons The Best Vinho Verde 2025 10% (£9.75) - Fresh and zesty with notes of lime blossom, grapefruit and peach.
• Azavedo Loureiro-Alvarhino, Vinho Verde 2025 12% (The Wine Society £10.50) - Attractive, peachy and delicately fragrant.
• Casal de Ventozela Alvarhino 2025 Vinho Verde 13.5% (Majestic £11 mix six) - From the Arinto grape, this is aged in oak barrels. Complex but fresh with flavours of citrus and apple. Great with seafood.

Quintas do Homem, Vale do Homem, Loureiro Vinho Verde 2025 12% (Mitchells, Sheffield £13.19) - This has fine floral and fruity aromas. Fresh and elegant with well-balanced acidity.

It probably took time for the Portuguese to realise that the high alcohol port grape varieties such as Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz. could also make great red table wine at lower alcohol levels.

We now have lovely Douro reds such as the ones below:

• Invincible Douro Red 2022 13.5% Winemakers, South African Mark Kent and Rita Marques (Sainburys £12.75) - From Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Tempranillo, aged for 16 months in old French oak, smooth and succulent.
• Altana Organic Douro 2023, Symington Family 13.5% ( Waitrose £10) - Plum, peppery tannins from Alicante Bouschey, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz grapes.
• Quinta do Crasto “Quartzo” Douro 2023 13% (Majestic £12) – Vibrant red and black fruit and some floral notes.Tesco Finest Douro 2023 Diogo Marina, Sogrape.(£11.50) - Nose of red fruits and spice, palate with well integrated tannins and a long, concentrated finish.
• M&S Quinta Da Fafide 2023, Winemaker Rui Madeira 14% (£12) – Smooth, intense red wine with flavours of blackberry, bergamot and vanilla spice. Aged in French and American oak barrels this is smooth and full-bodied and goes well with roast beef, pork chops or cheese.
• Feuereerd's Anchor Wine Reserva 2023 13.5% (Sainsburys £12.75) - Aged in old oak casks for 12 months with elegant black fruits, spicy notes and a long velvety finish.
• Madriola de Lisboa 2023, 13.5% ( Tesco £7.50) - Not from the Douro but using Douro variety Touriga Nacional, plus Sirah and Alicante Bouschet. A beautiful blend with lovely bright black and red fruit, very smooth and a rich mouthful of flavour.

Finally, years ago, when high up the Douro I decided to go to the vineyard producing the then fashionable Mateus Rose.

On passing a Portuguese pub I heard loud cheering and on investigation they were cheering the England football team.

I never got to Mateus Rose!