WINE CLUB | CHEESE CLUB

This month we're exploring magical Portugal and some of its elusive wine grapes. There are more than 250(!) native grape varieties, so don't feel bad if you've never heard of most of them — though you've most likely tasted two of its most famous wines, Port and Madeira.

With lighter evenings and warmer days toying with us lately, we thought it'd be a perfect time to drink our way through this beautiful Southern European country that has coasts on two sides and a climate that's as relaxed as the locals. Cheers to spring, and to making it through Seattle winter. 

We hope to raise a glass with you soon!

The Halfseas Team

ALL CLUB MEMBERS GET TO ENJOY THESE 3 BOTTLES:

2020 Quinta de Chocapalha Arinto

Grape: Arinto
Region: Lisboa, Portugal
Retail: $20

In the 1980s, the Tavares da Silva family bought a beautiful estate and discovered a whopping 110 acres of abandoned grape vines. As they dug in to figure out how these vines could go unnoticed for so long, they learned that these weren't a side project gone cold — the estate had been home to winemaking since the 1500s. This history was so alluring that their youngest daughter, Sandra, jumped in head first and turned the whole ship around. She's now the winemaker and focuses on highlighting the very best grapes from the property, like this fresh bottle of Arinto.

Drinking + pairing ideas: Spaghetti and clams topped with herby bread crumbs and grated parmesan. Bonus points for using some of the wine in your sauce. A little for you, a little for your clams.

2020 Carta da Fitapreta

Grapes: Aragonez (Tempranillo), Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet
Region: Alentejo, Portugal
Retail: $25

António Maçanita is one of the winemakers pushing Portuguese wines forward — he makes modern, delicious wines from indigenous grape varieties in a labor of love that includes picking the grapes in the middle of the night (the cool temperature means the winemakers have a bit more control over the fermentation process). António's sun-drenched, hilly winery is in the ancient town of Evora in Alentejo, a region in Southern Portugal with absurdly turquoise beaches along the Atlantic coast. There are also castles, amazing olive oil, wines like this, and Roman ruins. Ready to plan your trip yet?

Drinking + pairing ideas: Peppery braised pork shoulder and charred veggies. Throw it in the oven or slow cooker on a weekend morning and spend the whole day wishing it was time to eat. We won't judge if you pour a glass of this before dinner is ready.

2018 Quinta de Saes

Grapes: Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, Jaen, Tinta Pinheira
Region: Dao, Portugal
Retail: $24

This bottle comes to us from down-to-earth father-daughter duo Álvaro and Maria Castro. They're both formally trained engineers who gave it all up to make wine, and they do it with a load of passion. From their winery in the stunning Dão region, they follow a traditional winemaking process from the 16th century. Even as many winemakers in Portugal have modernized their approach (this was especially a trend in the 1980s), Alvaro and Maria doubled down on their intentionally-slow winemaking process to let their native grapes shine, in a place that's described by many as the "perfect" wine-growing region.

Drinking + pairing ideas: Lamb kebobs with all the trimmings. This is a fresh wine ready to drink now (not to store for years), so just open and enjoy!

6-BOTTLE MEMBERS ALSO GET TO ENJOY THESE 3 BOTTLES:

2020 Casa de Mouraz Dao Branco

Grapes: Malvasia-Fina, Encruzado, Bical, Cerceal-Branco
Region: Dao, Portugal
Retail: $24

In the 12th century, this region was home to Cistercian monks who built a local monastery and kickstarted the vineyard farming, and it's been going strong ever since in this lovely spot. António and Sara left their jobs in the London art world to come back to António's hometown and continue building on the traditions from so long ago. There's just not really a chance you won't love this one. 

Drinking + pairing ideas: This screams for a sunny afternoon with salmon burgers.

2019 Tons de Duorum Tinto

Grape: Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz
Region: Douro, Portugal
Retail: $16

Now we come to the Douro, a region nestled on steep hillsides sloping down to the Douro River — so steep that grapes have to be hand picked. It's so old and so impressive that it's an official UNESCO world heritage site. The grapes in this bottle are the same ones that go into Port, but aside from that, the two wines are very different. If you typically look for bigger-bodied dry (read: not sweet) red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, this will be a super fun switch up for you. Joao Portugal Ramos and Jose Soares Franco are BFFs who own and run this winery together, and happen to also be two of the most well-regarded winemakers in Portugal.  

Drinking + pairing ideas: Grilled steaks with a big leafy green salad and a passionate serving of garlic bread.

2017 Niepoort LBV Port (375ml)

Grapes: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Amarela, Sousão, Tinta Roriz
Region: Douro, Portugal
Retail: $20

Do you remember when you signed up for this wine club, and part of the agreement was that you'd trust us? And try new things? Here's your test :) If you already love Port — amazing (and you're welcome)! If you think you don't, give it a shot. Port is a fortified, sweet, delicious red wine that is famously stomped by foot in big shallow vats. While this isn't always the case these days, in a story that seems too magical to be true (but is definitely true), workers used to stomp in shifts. The winery owners often hired musicians to hang around and play music to keep morale up. As workers wrapped up their shifts, they'd get to drink a glass of Port and — swept up in the music and the wine and the energy — they'd start dancing. Soon enough, everyone would join in, and, well, can you just picture anything more lovely? Anyway, we hope you enjoy this very special wine.

Drinking + pairing ideas: Port is pretty flexible — it's great with dessert, a cheese plate (it especially makes blue cheese shine), or you can try it like the Portuguese, on the rocks with a lime peel with a summery meal like smoky BBQ. Either way, serve it slightly chilled.

Looking for past lineups? We got you.

REMINDERS

• As always, our food suggestions are just starting points. Wine is nostalgic and we’re big fans of making what you like, drinking what you like, and not giving a damn if they “go” together.

• Email us at info@halfseaswine.com to buy more single bottles or a 12-bottle case with special pricing.

• Come see us at Halfseas, your charming little neighborhood wine shop tucked inside Brimmer & Heeltap. Open Wednesday through Sunday 12 - 9pm.

• Wine pairs best with friends. Tell your friends.