Quinta da Romaneira port finally arrives in the UK

Quinta da Romaneira port has made its debut in the UK, flying in under the radar despite coming from one of Portugal’s largest wine estates in the Douro Valley.

Coming from the heart of the port country, the wines display wild and herbal scents, according to Victoria Moore, and despite the estate’s size, they are known for putting more of their energy into ‘normal’ wines, rather than those of the fortified variety.

Moore states that the Romanaria’s reawakening began in 2004 when it was purchased by a consortium of private investors and passed into the stewardship of Christian Seely. Seely had already been in charge of the nearby Quinta do Noval, and already had a few ideas on what he wanted in terms of quality.

Romaneira’s petit verdot features a blueberry sweetness and subtle violet scent, though it’s the blends of native varieties that most evoke the wild beauty of the place in which they’re grown, Moore says.

The wines are being brought to the UK by Lea & Sandeman, who are also stocking their Touriga Nacional 2012 and Quinta da Romaneira Reserva 2010.