portugal

Tales of Tawny Port, Marmalade and Lawn Roller Stiltons at Les Amis du Fromage

October 24, 2011

A sure sign that Christmas and the holidays are right around the corner is the seasonal deluge of wine tastings, including not a few Port and Sherry offerings. The other night we went to one with a difference, put on by Vancouver’s Les Amis du Fromage. Full disclosure: I’m a longtime friend and customer of [...]

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Of Tiles, Tunas and Touriga Naçional

November 18, 2010

Just back from Portugal, and we’re playing serious catch-up! After a week of tasting a wide variety of sometimes unfamiliar table wine varieties—from Siria and Encruzada (whites) to Baga and Afrocheiro, in Beira, Dao and Bairrada, we’ve come to a few conclusions. Portugal has been long known for its value wines. Entry level reds from [...]

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First Tastes of Portugal: Fried Little Fish and Tentacles

November 10, 2010

Two hours after landing in Oporto, we’re hot on the trail of two essentials: sardines and octopus. Oh—and wine! Well, that’s not too hard to find around these parts. Nor are the first two. Down a narrow side street, not far from our hotel, in the centre of the old town, we discover capacious, two-tiered [...]

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