Alentejo has been a land of wine in Portugal for millennia. The region has been home to the three pillars of Mediterranean food: wine, olive oil and bread. With wine growing going on in the region for centuries, it was no surprise that wineries decided to adapt the region as their home. One of the wineries at the forefront of Alentejo’s and in a broader perspective, Portugal’s wine culture is the Adega Cooperativa de Redondo. 

The winery, established over six decades ago, has throughout its existence created wines that appeal to drinkers from all walks of life. A testament to that was their swashbuckling win at the 2021 Paris Wine Cup, where the winery took home the prestigious title of Winery of the Year. It was awarded this distinction on the back of its seven wines that won a double gold medal, two gold medals, four silver medals, and a host of special category awards. 

Paris Wine Cup is a premier wine judging competition taking place on the European shore. It was created to recognize and promote wine brands and to add value and recognize brands that deserve a place in a restaurant’s wine list and a retailer shelf. The judging is done via a blind tasting procedure with the factors of quality, value, and packaging championed. Brands are awarded double gold (above 95 points), gold (90-95 points), silver (80-89 points), bronze (70-79points), and special category awards. 

Adega Cooperativa de Redondo was hands down the finest winery on show at the 2021 edition, showcasing its terrific range. Its flagship wine the Porta da Ravessa Reserva won a competition leading five medals and was ably supported by six other top-shelf wines. 

Porta da Ravessa Reserva 

There is a spot at every competition reserved for the best. At the 2021 Paris Wine Cup, this distinction was reserved for the Porta da Ravessa Reserva from Adega Cooperativa de Redondo. The awards bestowed on this white wine included the Wine of the Year, Best Wine by Quality, Best Wine by Packaging, Best in Show by Country, and Double Gold medal. The 2019 vintage made from Fernão Pires, Arinto, and Verdelho varietals, the Porta da Ravessa Reserva’s citrine color provides it with a bright appearance. 

On the nose, there are fine and intense aromas with spicy nuances and white fruit notes that work their magic. Its elegant and creamy mouthfeel comes on the back of brioche and baked bread notes. The richness of the wine makes it ideal to be paired with a diverse number of dishes. A 96 point scoring complex wine that is the perfect companion for the table. 

Porta da Ravessa 

A red blend of Trincadeira, Castelão, Aragónez and Alicante Bouschet, the Porta da Ravessa scored 91 points and a gold medal at the 2021 Paris Wine Cup. Notes of wild berries harmonize with elegant floral notes to create a powerful nose that gives way to a round, velvety mouthfeel. The Porta da Ravessa is fresh on the palate with flavors of cherries, plums, and strawberries. Another great wine that captures the spirit of Alentejo and is one for the dinner table. 

Porta da Ravessa Grande Escolha

The third gold medal winner with a score of 90 points, the Porta da Ravessa Grande Escolha is a rare wine from Adega Cooperativa de Redondo that wowed the judges at the competition. Very intense and deep-colored, the nose of the wine displays aromas of blackberries and ripe berries that are beautifully integrated. The dense mouth-feel features notes of vanilla, dark chocolate, and clove which lend the wine its distinct character. Pair this red with rich meats to enjoy the wine in all its glory. 

Porta da Ravessa Rosé

Starting the list of silver medal winners from Adega Cooperativa de Redondo was the Porta da Ravessa Rosé that scored 87 points at the Paris Wine Cup. The bright and clear pink-colored rosé wine has subtle but rich aromas of cherries nuanced with lychees and tropical fruits. The expressive palate exudes a lot of freshness that comes from notes of strawberries, cranberries and pomegranate. A delicious aperitif wine that can also be paired with a nice dish of ham. 

Porta da Ravessa Special Edition

A light-bodied, fruit-forward red wine, the Porta da Ravessa Special Edition also scored 87 points at the competition. The bouquet of the wine has nuances of vanilla along with slightly floral hints. Flavors of black plum, black cherries with subtle flavors of earth make up the palate of what is a modern and cosmopolitan wine from the Portuguese brand. A nice, easy-drinking wine with a vibrant, balanced finish. 

Porta da Ravessa Reserva Red Wine

What has been a constant throughout all these award-winning wines from Adega Cooperativa de Redondo is how beautiful and sleek the bottles are. The Porta da Ravessa Reserva is no different, but the color combination makes it look swank. Inside the bottle, the richness continues. Aromas of bush berries and blackberry jam are wrapped in soft vanilla notes and tobacco leaves nuances. Ripe strawberry and cherry notes make up the palate of this red blend which concludes in a lingering finish. All of these factors enabled the Porta da Ravessa Reserva’s 86 point score. 

Porta da Ravessa Colheita Especial

A delicious conclusion to the list of winners from the winery came via the 85 points scoring Porta da Ravessa Colheita Especial. On the nose, aromas of red berries mingle with subtle notes of fresh spices. The mouth-feel is velvety comprising cherry, plum and prune notes. A fresh, elegant and balanced wine perfect for accompanying with grilled meats. 

These seven award-winning wines are a small piece of a phenomenal ensemble. The Portuguese winery produces 38 wines in total, all of which are very difficult to remain indifferent to. 

While the winery is doing more than its part in bringing Portuguese wines to the world, the team is very aware of the importance natural resources hold to our future generations. The winery has joined hands with Alentejo Wines Sustainability Programme to increase its efficiency in a sustainable manner. 

Header Image- Redondo Winery, source: Facebook