The upper Douro Valley has become the leading player in Portugal’s red wines and it was our pioneering lying abroad offer of Douro reds that clinched Tanners winning Portuguese Independent Wine Merchant of the Year in 2007. Quinta do Passadouro, Quinta do Romaneira, Cedro do Noval, Quinta Vale D Maria and Johnny Graham’s Churchill Estates are in the vanguard of the wonderfully robust Douro wines from upstream of Oporto. They feature Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz grapes. The much talked-about Alentejo region of south-east Portugal is the source of the superb Marques de Borba Branco and Tinto wines from the estate of João Portugal Ramos’ estate; both are from indigenous grapes. These include Alforochiera, Castelao and Trincadeira for the red and Arinto and Fernâo Pires for the white, all examples of the treasure trove of unique grapes to be found in Portugal. Setúbal features as a curio in the wine books but is rarely tasted so we really recommend you to try the deliciously sweet and grapey Bacalôa Moscatel de Setúbal from the coast just outside Lisbon.