Hannah Crosbie’s Guardian piece explores why Portuguese red blends are thriving in the UK while single varietal wines struggle. Portugal has more than 250 native grapes, but field blends dominate because old vines are planted together, making blending the natural choice.
Consumers are unfamiliar with grape names such as Baga, Castelão or Touriga Nacional, which makes single varietals a harder sell. By contrast, blends feel approachable, are often labelled simply as “field blend” and offer excellent value. Sommelier Sinéad Murdoch explains that blends “fly off the shelves” because people know and trust them, whereas single grape wines tend to intimidate buyers.
Here are the wines highlighted in the article:
Taste the Difference Portuguese Lisboa Red Wine, £7.75, 13.5%
Sainsbury’s. A spicy, full blend of Syrah, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz.
No 1 Douro Valley Reserva Quinta da Rosa, £15, 13.5%
Medium-bodied, oak-aged with dark bramble fruit, produced exclusively for Waitrose.
Adega de Borba Convento da Vila 2022, £14.50, 13.5%
The Sourcing Table. A smooth blend of Trincadeira, Aragonez, Castelão and Touriga Nacional.
Folias de Baco Uivo Vinhas Velhas, £28, 12%
Modal Wines. Made from 10 different grape varieties, aged in barrel for over three years.
