The taste of Bairrada in only four bottles

What to do when you find yourself in the middle of a wonderful historic wine area but don’t really know where you want to go or have time to visit all the wineries?
I am currently in Curia, in the heart of Bairrada. Just a short walk from the hotel I find ”Loja da rota de Bairrada.” A small combined wine shop / tourist information located in the old station house.
Here you will find a selection of basically all producers and wines from the Bairrada region. A perfect place to start a wine journey, because of course they also offer tastings.
The tasting Bairrada em Prova, or Taste Bairrada, is four different wines that give a good cross-section of what the region can offer.

The first thing I get to try is a fresh rosé from Casa do Canto. A Reserva 2021 on Baga and Touriga Nacional. The aroma is clear, with notes of candied roses, and the roses follow in the flavour, but now in the company of green strawberries, cherry pits, raspberries and minerals. The proximity to the Atlantic can be sensed in the light saltiness. It is a dry rosé that, thanks to its clear character, goes well with light salads as well as chicken and pork.

The next wine is D.N.M.C. 2022 from Filipa Pato and William Wouters. 80% Bical and 20% Arinto. The aroma makes me think of honey-soaked flowers in a candy store. Full, round, exciting. The flavour is also fruity, with pear and peach as the first dominant. It is a full-bodied wine with clear minerals and light bitterness that gives both structure and balance. Seafood is the natural companion, but I would also like to try it with grilled chicken.

The third I try is a sparkling from Luis Pato. Vinha Formal Bruto 2015. Touriga Nacional and Bical. It is an elegant wine with flavours of apple, peach, brioche and exotic fruits. Perfect for sipping in the bar or at a mingle party, as well as for lightly grilled meat or vegetables.

The last wine on my little odyssey is a red wine. Primavera Reserva 2022, made from Baga, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional grapes. The colour is clear garnet. The wine rolls easily over the tongue with notes of blueberries, blackcurrants, basil, paprika and hints of white pepper. The tannins are there, but very soft and discreet. It is an elegant fresh wine.

For the stressed or uncertain, Loja da rota de Barriada is a perfect place to stop on the journey through Bairrada. The selection in my little mini-tasting gave just what it promised, a taste of Bairrada. Different styles, different producers.
Now only two difficult questions remain: Which is the favourite? And what will be my next stop?
So many wines, so little time…..

Maria Scharffenberg