Portugal has emerged as one of Europe's most compelling fine wine destinations, not through imitation of its neighbours but through an insistence on its own indigenous varieties; Touriga Nacional, Baga, Alvarinho, and a cast of others found nowhere else. The Douro, Bairrada, and Alentejo each offer a distinct landscape and a distinct argument for what serious wine can look like outside the classic French appellations.

We approach Portugal the way we approach every region on our list - looking for producers who make wines of genuine distinction from the right soils, not simply wines that fit a convenient category.