Two great events on the horizon for Portuguese Wine Fans + New Centreville varieties

While we here at the Native Grape have been a little busy cultivating some home grown varieties (see below) the rest of you can experience some wonderful Portuguese wines this week with two great events on the horizon.  See our Events page for details.  http://thenativegrape.blogspot.com/p/events.html

Eliza Emily Evans(What we're growing in Centreville)

"Dodoni Finalist For IASON Award"

Dodoni Finalist For IASON Award
http://greece.greekreporter.com/2013/04/08/dodoni-finalist-for-iason-award/

These guys make my absolute favorite Feta!!!  We like to keep the 3lb tub in brine in the fridge in Spring and Summer for salads and to add to eggs, pasta, grilled bread...just about anything really.  This stuff is unbelievably creamy and just delicious! 

"The Truth About Wine and Asparagus"

Fun read...I have always heard Italian Gavi to be one of the best whites for Asparagus, and I would have to add Santorini whites and Portuguese Loureiros to the list of course. 

www.foodandwine.com/articles/the-truth-about-wine-and-asparagus

Great new Cheese Column by Katie Carter!

Hey -check out Katie Carter's new column in Arlington now, arlnow.com.  Great article Katie, looking forward to many more!

Your Cheesemonger: Cheese 101

"A taste off: Portuguese Touriga Nacional v Touriga Nacional blends"

I love this!  From Sarah Ahmed of The Wine Detective, a Touriga Nacional taste off of 100 % varietal wines and blends from the four major regions for Touriga Nacional in Portugal; Douro, Dão, Alentejo and Lisboa. 

A taste off: Portuguese Touriga Nacional v Touriga Nacional blends

 

"A Tour of Portugal in 5 Wines"

I think they definitely have more fun with Portuguese wines in the UK...you can experience a little of it vicariously through this great post on Catavino by Tara O'leary.

http://catavino.net/
http://catavino.net/5-top-portuguese-wines/

"Esporão, The Consistent Storyteller"

Check out this latest blog by Zachary Sussman for Notes from Esporao.  It's an interesting discussion of point chasing and status wines in Portugal, and one winery that has managed to maintain its image as the poster child for quality wine in the Alentejo without painting itself into the inaccessible stratosphere of limited availability luxury wines.

http://notesfromesporao.com/2012/12/esporao-the-consistent-storyteller/