K&L Newsletter: Top Selections From Spain & Portugal

I’ve just returned from a buying trip through Spain and Portugal, and I’m more energized than ever about what these regions are delivering. Across the board—red, white, and sparkling—the quality is high, the styles are distinctive, and the pricing still works strongly in the customer’s favor. From Spain’s broad, well‑established appellations to Portugal’s incredible diversity of native varieties, the consistency and craftsmanship I tasted were impressive. The wines highlighted here are some of the bottles and categories I’m genuinely excited to share with you.

Dao Is the "Burgundy of Portugal"

Dão is one of the most unique regions in the country. It is essentially an isolated bowl located in the center north of Portugal. It is surrounded by mountains, which protect it not only from coastal influence but also from the sweltering heat of the middle of the Iberian Peninsula. This is a place apart from the rest of the winemaking regions of the country. While most vineyards are not planted on the slopes of the surrounding mountains, the region has an alpine feel. Here the smaller vineyard holdings are surrounded by forests. It is not uncommon to find giant granite boulders strewn across the landscape—it has an untamed feel to it. The wines from the region have been called the Burgundies of Portugal. While I do not know if that fits, the wines do feel brighter, more aromatic, and more restrained—especially when compared to the bold, sun-drenched wines from the rest of the country.

PortugalKirk WalkerFebruary 22, 2025K&L Wine Merchantsklwines, wine, portuguese wines, kirk walker, dao, portugal

Portugal in the Spotlight and Rioja's New Wave

Today's newsletter gives Portugal a long-overdue stint in the spotlight. With some of the greatest stylistic and varietal diversity in the world, it's a wine explorer's paradise… For all our Spanish aficionados, I'm also providing a fresh look at some of the most intriguing producers redefining the landscape of the country's most important region, Rioja.

Portuguese Wine 101: Douro Valley

In addition to being one of the most eclectic wine regions, the Douro Valley is one of the most scenic in the world. It is amazing. There is the Douro River and its tributaries that have carved these valleys into granite and schist. This is a region that speaks to time in a way that mountains speak to time. There are winding terraced slopes that, in some bends and turns, the forests have reclaimed. This is a place where the expression “a photo is worth a thousand words” fails—no images truly capture the magic of this place.

Portuguese Wine 101: Alentejo

One of the most surprising features of almost all the wines from Alentejo—red, white, and rosé—is the freshness. This can be a sundrenched region, and the wines have generous fruit, the body, and sometimes alcohol to show for it. However, they can also have a vibrancy that would suggest a cooler climate. It is this combination, not to mention all the layers of flavor complexity that can be interwoven with the mixture of Portuguese and international varietals. Here are a few wonderful wineries to try as you begin to dive into this region.

Let Kirk Be Your Guide to the Exciting World of Portuguese Wine

So many exciting things are happening in the Portuguese wine world. Over the last 30 years the wine industry has changed so much… in the span of just one generation, Portuguese wine is ready for international success. Winemakers and viticulturalists have so much knowledge now, it is no surprise how good these wines are now. And the best part about it is that we are along for the ride to watch and taste what is happening.

A Guide to Portuguese Wine Via Falua’s Vimioso

Sometimes wines just fall into place at the right time. What is the right time? Well for this wine, the 2021 Falua "Conde Vimioso" Branco Tejo $14.99, the time is right now. It comes from Portugal, a country that is most definitely in the middle of a moment as one of the hottest tourist destinations in Europe. If you are reading this, you probably have been to Portugal in the last five years; if not, you definitely know people who have.

Old Favorites and New Discoveries from Spain and Portugal

K&L Spain/Portugal Buyer Kirk Walker checks in on some of our longtime favorite wine producers and introduces us to a new-to-our-shelves importer who’s shaking things up in the European import world.

The Place Is the Thing with Mary Taylor Wines

Mary Taylor is an innovative producer/importer who’s taking a fresh approach to the wine business. Not unlike the wines that Kermit Lynch imports, Mary Taylor’s wines are small-production and regional; the big difference, however, is that the brand on the label is the importer, not the producer. If you are seeking well made, regionally specific wines, fear not—these are the wines you’re looking for! Once you have tried a bottle with the name Mary Taylor on it, you’re sure to try another.