Dirk Niepoort is an extremely bright and creative chap with a huge number of ideas, many of which have been incredibly successful in practice. It would appeal to me enormously if I thought he might be even slightly irritating to work for, but I doubt it. He knows the business inside out and the workings, history and potential of Niepoort even more intimately. It is that potential that he leverages so ruthlessly and effectively.
Portugal
Portugal
Still that poor country on the Atlantic edge of Europe, having been hampered by decades of isolation and dictatorship, Portugal is finally getting that wine thang right. Partly a question of marketing - now very successful - and partly one of self confidence and investment - definitely getting there, Portuguese wine is better and more available than ever. From the north to the south our oldest ally is discovering its native grape varieties and making intense, delightful wines with them. Plenty to reward exploration here.
- Quinta do Soalheiro
Albariño in Spain, Alvarinho across the Miño/Minho River in Portugal. Either way, it’s the most favoured white grape variety in the north-western Iberian Peninusula. Its combination of steely acidity and stonefruit flavours lends itself to wines that are ripe and vigorous, and very often irresistible. On the Portuguese side of the border, Alvarinho also makes one of the best expressions of Vinho Verde (‘green wine’. the term is a reference to the verdant local countryside). The heartland of premium Vinho Verde is on the granitic soils and sunny slopes of Monção e Melgaço.
