Taylor’s Very Old Single Harvest Port 1968 (€305), the red wines Cartuxa Pêra-Manca 2005 (€460) and Casa Ferreirinha Barca Velha 1999 (€563.8) were the wines distinguished by specialist Eustacia Huen.

What makes a great wine, a great wine, consistently over the years? There’s nothing better to answer this question than a tasting of Barca Velha, the most famous Portuguese wine. In its last edition, 18 thousand bottles were produced, which are currently priced at around €600 per unit in Portugal.

The creator of Barca Velha “had the dream of producing great table wine in the Douro” and to achieve this dream, he went to France to study and learn from the best.

They are the two reference red wines of the country. They share a high price, fame and an exhilarating history. Portugal produces excellent wines, however, it is always good to know which national specialties are among all those that exist, and being recognised abroad.

Three Portuguese wines are on the list of the 15 best wines in the world. A list made by Forbes, regarding the best wines of 2019. France has four wines in the Top 12.

1. Scarecrow Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (€935.96)

2. Domaine de La Romanée-Conti Burgundy Côte de Nuits 2000 (€3795)

3. Soldera Case Basse Sangiovese Toscana 2006 (€485)

4. Chatêau d’Yquem Bordeaux Sauternes 2001 (€575.3)

5. Taylor’s Very Old Single Harvest Port 1968 (€305)

6. Domaine de La Romanée-Conti Burgundy Cotê de Nuits 2011 (€2800)

7. Viñedo Chadwik Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 (€374.82)

8. Masseto Tuscan 2005 (€967.5)

9. Cartuxa Pêra-Manca 2005 (€460)

10. Pétrus Bordeaux 2005 (€4134)

11. Monteviejo Argentinian Malbec 2010 (€113.77)

12. Casa Ferreirinha Barca Velha 1999 (€563.8)

The list is led by the North American Scarecrow – Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 – which costs around $695.

In second place we find the first Gallic wine, Domaine de La Romanée-Conti Burgundy Côte de Nuits 2000. The price of each bottle is around $4,500.

Third and last place on the podium goes to the Italian Soldera – Tuscan Red 2006 – which has a price of $475.

French wines are included in all ten best places: 2nd place for Domaine de La Romanée-Conti Burgundy Côte de Nuits 2000, 4th place for Chatêau d’Yquem Bordeaux Sauternes 2001 ($800), 6th place for Domaine de La Romanée-Conti Burgundy Cotê de Nuits 2011 ($2,999) and 10th place for Pétrus Bordeaux 2005 ($3,200).

As for Portuguese wines, the best ranked is a Port wine that occupies 5th place, Taylor’s Very Old Single Harvest Port 1968. A bottle costs around $250.

It also counts on two red wines, in 9th place we have a red from the Alentejo, Cartuxa Pêra-Manca 2005, while in 12th place we find a red from the Douro, Casa Ferreirinha Barca Velha 1999.

Author

A journalist that’s always eager to learn about new things. With a passion for travel, adventure and writing about this diverse world of ours.

“Wisdom begins in wonder” -  Socrates

Kate Sreenarong