Hello, Luis here. Today I have two things to share with you.
First, some news I'm genuinely excited about. We've just added 11 new sparkling wines to the shop, bringing our collection to 23 Portuguese sparkling wines. As far as I can tell, that gives Portugal Best Wines the largest dedicated range of Portuguese sparkling wines offered by any UK based wine retailer.
Second, and more importantly, I want to properly introduce you to this category. For many people, Portugal means Port or big, structured reds. Sparkling wine rarely gets a mention, and that always felt wrong to me. So consider this your complete guide to Espumante, with a proper tour of the range along the way.
What Is Espumante, and Why Should You Care?
Espumante (esh poo MAHN teh) is simply the Portuguese word for sparkling wine. It is not a cheap imitation of Champagne, even though some people still assume that. It is its own tradition, going back to the 12th century, when Cistercian monks began producing sparkling wine in the mountains of Távora Varosa. That same region went on to become Portugal's first wine area officially demarcated specifically for sparkling wine, back in 1989.
Most Espumante is made using the método clássico, the same traditional method used in Champagne, where the second fermentation happens inside the bottle. The difference is the grapes and the price. You are tasting native Portuguese varieties that most people outside the country have never heard of, often for a third of the price of a comparable Champagne.
Understanding Portugal's Sparkling Wine Regions
Just like our still wines, Portuguese sparkling wine changes character depending on where the grapes grow.
Bairrada (bye RAH dah)
Bairrada, on the Atlantic coast near Coimbra, is the true heartland of Portuguese sparkling wine. The clay and limestone soils and the cool, damp climate give the grapes the acidity that sparkling wine needs. Around 7.5 million bottles of Espumante are made here every year, mostly from Baga and Bical.
Try the Quinta das Bágeiras Super Reserva Brut 2022, rated 17/20 by Revista de Vinhos and 18/20 by Grandes Escolhas, the Luis Pato Baga Bruto, which scored 90 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, or the Kompassus Rosé Brut Nature 2020, a delicate onion skin pink rosé blending Baga and Pinot Noir, with wild berry and fresh red fruit character.
Távora Varosa (TAH voh rah vah ROH zah)
This small, mountainous region in the north is where it all began. It is cool, remote, and specifically demarcated for sparkling wine production, so the wines here tend to be dry, structured, and built for long ageing on the lees.
Try the Murganheira Super Reserve Brut 2022, aged four years in bottle and scoring 89 points from Revista de Vinhos.
Minho and Vinho Verde (VEEN yoo VEHR deh)
The green, rainy north west of Portugal, famous for light still whites, also makes lovely sparkling wine from Alvarinho, Loureiro and Arinto. Expect fresh, aromatic bottles with real minerality.
Try the Impossível Brut Nature, grown on granite soils and rated 89 points by Revista de Vinhos, or the Quinta d'Amares Brut Limited Edition, a 100 percent Arinto sparkling with citrus, white fruit and brioche notes.
Dão (downg)
Inland and at higher altitude, Dão brings structure and elegance, largely thanks to the Touriga Nacional grape.
Try the Monteirinhos Nonô Brut Nature Rosé, Gold winner at the International Rosé Championship 2021.
Meet the Styles
Bruto and Bruto Natureza
What it means: Bruto is Portuguese for Brut, meaning dry. Bruto Natureza, or Brut Nature, means no sugar at all was added at disgorgement, so it is even drier.
Tastes like: Citrus, green apple and a toasty, biscuity note from lees ageing.
Food pairing: Oysters, grilled fish, roast chicken.
Try it: Mariana Blanc de Blancs Brut, a 100 percent Arinto sparkling from the Alentejo, with citrus aromas, lively acidity and a distinctive mineral character.
Espumante Rosé
What it means: Made from red grapes with brief skin contact, giving the wine its pink colour.
Tastes like: Red berries, florals, and a crisp, dry finish.
Food pairing: Seafood, sushi, cured meats.
Try it: Almanua Brut Rosé, 93 points from Revista de Vinhos.
Espumante Tinto, red sparkling wine
What it means: A red grape fermented into a full sparkling wine, keeping its colour and tannin. It is a genuine Portuguese tradition, not a novelty.
Tastes like: Vibrant fruit and dark berries, with earthy, refined notes underneath.
Food pairing: Roast meats, grilled vegetables, hearty stews.
Try it: Quinta do Ferro Brut Red, a 100 percent Vinhão sparkling from the Vinho Verde region.
Pet Nat
What it means: Short for pétillant naturel, a natural sparkling wine made in a single fermentation, usually with less intervention and a lower price.
Tastes like: Fruity, slightly cloudy, and full of personality.
Food pairing: Casual food, picnics, aperitifs.
Try it: Phaunus Pet Nat White 2022, an organic natural sparkling wine from Aphros Wines in the Vinho Verde region, with floral aromas and delicate citrus fruit.
Low alcohol and botanical sparklers
What it means: A newer style, often infused with things like elderflower, green tea or rosemary, and typically around 6 to 10 percent alcohol.
Tastes like: Light, aromatic and easy to drink.
Food pairing: Aperitifs, warm afternoons, no food required.
Try it: Delância White with Elderflower and Green Tea, or the O Mimadu Ice, a bright, iridescent low alcohol sparkler with fine, shiny bubbles.
Serving and Storage
Serve most Espumante well chilled, around 6 to 8 degrees Celsius for the lighter styles and 8 to 10 for fuller Brut and Brut Nature bottles. Chill the bottle for a couple of hours before opening rather than relying on the freezer, which can shock the wine.
Use a tulip shaped glass rather than the old fashioned flute if you can. It lets the aromas develop properly and still keeps the bubbles alive. Store unopened bottles somewhere cool and dark, lying flat if they have a cork, and once opened, a fridge stopper will keep the fizz for a day or two.
Check Them Out for Some Unexpected Food Pairings
This is the part people are always surprised by. A few of my favourites.
Roast suckling pig (leitão) with a Bairrada Bruto. This is a proper regional pairing in central Portugal. The wine's acidity cuts straight through the crackling and the fat.
Bacalhau à Brás with the Quinta das Arcas Brut Reserva 2021. This 100 percent Arinto sparkling from Vinho Verde has the fresh, aromatic profile and lively mousse to lift the dish rather than compete with it.
Aged cheese with a red sparkling Vinhão, like the Aphros Yakkos Vinhão. Most people have never had red bubbles with cheese, and it is a genuine surprise in the best way.
Shellfish with a bone dry traditional method Brut such as Quinta das Bágeiras Super Reserva. The salinity in the wine meets the salinity in the shellfish, and it just works.
A sunset spritz style rosé, like the Delância Rosé with pomegranate and rosemary, on its own as an aperitif. No food needed at all, just a chilled glass on a warm evening.
Common Questions
Is Portuguese sparkling wine sweet?
No, most Espumante is dry to bone dry. Sweeter styles exist but they are not the norm.
Is it the same as Cava or Prosecco?
Not quite. Most quality Espumante uses the same bottle fermented method as Champagne, unlike Prosecco, which is usually tank fermented. The grapes are also entirely different, which is exactly what makes it interesting.
How long does it keep once opened?
A day or two in the fridge with a proper stopper. Beyond that, the bubbles start to fade.
Is it good value?
Genuinely, yes. You are getting Champagne level technique at a fraction of the price, simply because the region is not yet famous.
Where to Begin
If you would like a simple starting point, browse the full range here.
Portuguese Sparkling Wines Collection
My Final Thoughts
Portuguese sparkling wine is not a substitute for anything. It has its own history, its own grapes and its own place at the table, from a simple aperitif to the main course itself. With 23 wines now in the range, I believe this is the best place in the UK to actually explore it properly, rather than finding one lonely bottle at the bottom of a supermarket shelf.
If you have never tried an Espumante before, this is the moment. Pour a glass, take a sip, and taste centuries of Portuguese tradition.
Saúde, and welcome to the world of Portuguese sparkling wine.
Luis Ribeiro
Head of Bottled Affairs @Portugal Best Wines
