Winning Wines for World Cup Parties

The 2014 FIFA Brazil World Cup is on! And no doubt, you'll be hosting many a celebration that calls for good food and good wine. To honor this year's host country, here's a round up of the bes Brazilian and Portuguese wines you can bring to the table. 

First, some background: Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and the fifth largest producer of wine in the Southern Hemisphere. With a winemaking tradition dating back to the late 19th century, the nation’s wineries produce over 330,000,000 liters per year. The only problem is that many of them are not imported into the USA and many stay in Brazil for domestic consumption. Thankfully, winemakers are letting a few of their delicious sparkling wines hit our shores. Here’s a list of some of our favorite Brazilian sparkling wines from this former Portuguese colony and some of our favorite wines from the Portuguese motherland. 

White Wine

Herdade Do Esporao Monte Velho (left) is a blend of 40% Antao Vaz, 40% Roupeiro, and 20% Perrum. It’s light, crisp, and clean with a fruity finish. 

Vadio Bairrada is pale straw colored with aromas of nectarines and guava. It’s big in the mouth with lots of fruit flavors. Try this one with grilled tuna. 

Planalto Douro Vinho Branco Seco Reserva is light yellow in color with touches of green at the rim. It’s full of fruit flavors including cantaloupe, pear, passion fruit, and mango. There’s a nice balance of acidity and minerality. 

Chaminé Vinho Branco is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Verdelho, Antao Vaz, and Viognier. It has aromas of citrus blossoms, ripe pears, and green apples. It’s crisp and fruity on the palate with a delightful finish. 

Sousa Lopes Selecao do Enologo Unfiltered is clear with a hint of green. It has great flavors of guava, mango, and passion fruit with balanced minerality. It’s just creamy enough to serve with pork and veal. 

Next, sparkling, rose, and red wines… [pagebreak]

Sparkling Wine

Vinicola Aurora Carnaval Sparkling Muscat is slightly sweet with flavors of peach, lemon blossom, and nectarine. It has lots of bubbles to tickle your nose and will make you feel like you’re sitting on Copacabana Beach in Rio.    

Casa Valduga NV Brut 130 is made in a style similar to crisp, clean, Champagne. It has aromas of toasted bread, yeast, and is creamy on your palate. Delightful as an aperitif or with fresh-shucked oysters. 

Rose Wine

Vinha da Defesa is vibrant pink in color and has aromas of sliced red strawberries tossed with a few sprigs of mint. It’s big and bold in the palate with fresh fruit flavors and a surprising touch of creaminess in the finish.    

Red Wine

Post Scriptum de Chryseia Douro DOC (left) is dark garnet with a ruby red rim. It has delightful aromas of black plums, blackberries, and black cherries. There’s a nice level of minerality and spice in the finish. 

Manoella Douro is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touiga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Francisca. It’s ink colored with aromas of black raspberry, red cherry, and Christmas baking spices. It’s big and bold in the mouth with a great finish.

Casa Ferrerinha Papa Figos Douro is ruby red with an intense floral presence in the bouquet. There are notes of violet and rose hips that hit your nose and flavors of chocolate covered cherries and fresh strawberries that delight your palate.  

Prazo de Roriz Douro DOC (right) is a blend of Tinta Barroca, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and a few other varieties. It is deep garnet with aromas of black plums, black raspberries, and just a whiff of eucalyptus. The finish is elegant and restrained.