Portugal’s best kept secret?

Arguably Portugal’s finest white grape variety, Encruzado delivers floral aromatic wines of fresh lemon citrus and stone fruit character, with a round, luscious mouthfeel that is reminiscent of an oak aged white Burgundy.

Hailing from the granite hills of Dão (pronounced ‘down’) in the centre of Portugal, Encruzado vines are mostly planted between 400-500 meters, but some go as high as 800 meters, thus preserving its tangy acidity as a result of a diurnal shift in temperature.

This varietal responds well to lees aging, which adds complexity to the wine, and imparts a hazelnut, toasty character to balance out the intensity of its minerality.

With white wines of Portugal comprising mainly of field blends, this is a rare opportunity to savour one of the hidden, undervalued gems of the Old World.