Wine with Leslie: This little-known region is full of underrated value — here are my 3 picks
Some producers I particularly like include Segredos de São Miguel, Esporão, Monte de Peceguina and Herdade dos Grous. Picture: iStock.
This week’s column features three wines from one of the most underrated and best value wine regions in the world, Alentejo. I suspect the vast majority of people reading this have been on holiday to the Algarve, but most of the wine you drank on your holiday was probably from the region just to the north, Alentejo.
Alentejo is the least populated Portuguese region and perfect for growing grapes due to its warm dry climate. The region is large so it is difficult to generalise but reds tend to be juicy and ripe, but can also be complex and ageworthy. Whites tend to be aromatic and textured but dry, a winning combination I always feel (albariño has this too). Most wines are made with native Portuguese varieties so you will have to learn some new words. For whites look for antão vaz and arinto and for reds watch for trincadeira, castelão and aragonez (better known as tempranillo). Some producers I particularly like include Segredos de São Miguel, Esporão, Monte de Peceguina and Herdade dos Grous.
What sparked me off on this topic were some new Portuguese wines sent to me by Molloys, an off-licence group I rather neglect as they only have shops in Dublin, although they do deliver nationwide. There are seven locations and most shops have had a makeover recently and are worth a detour. Family-owned and now in the third generation, the Clondalkin shop won the NOffLA National off-licence of the year award in 2024 and the Clonsilla store won Dublin off-licence award in 2025.
Molloys import several of their own wines and are strong on French wine; they have a French wine sale running until the end of October. I recommend the Dauvergne Ranvier Crozes Hermitage (€22, reduced from €25) and the Château Reynier red and white (€13).
As with so many Alentejo whites this is made with antão vaz and arinto plus some encruzado and rabo de ovelha. Antão vaz is my favourite white grape from Portugal, and even in blends it brings fragrance and depth.
This is ripe and aromatic on the nose with tropical fruits and lemon notes, a rounded palate, but with streaks of mineral freshness and balancing taut acidity Bargain.
- Matsons; Baggot St Wines; Whelehans; McGuinness
From a family-run estate in Southern Portugal, founded by Henrique Uva and still run by him his four daughters.
The estate is based near Beja and has large quantities of old vines with a mix of native Portuguese grapes and international varieties.
A fragrant blend of verdelho, alvarinho and viognier, floral peach and tropical fruit aromas, a rounded ripe palate with a tang of freshness on the finish.
- Molloys Off Licences, molloys.ie
Made from Portugal’s most celebrated native red grape touriga nacional most commonly found in the Douro for both Port and table wines but these days planted all over Portugal.
Always fragrant and juicy this is a fine introduction to the grape, offering blackberry and violet aromas, a supple palate with more blackberry on the palate mixed with dark cherries, and pleasing grip and texture.
- Molloys Off Licences, molloys.ie
A limited edition of Teeling Small Batch finished in casks from Venezuelan rum producer Santa Teresa (replacing the usual Caribbean rum casks). Toffee, chocolate and dark honey aromas, a smooth creamy-sweet palate with vanilla fudge followed by pepper and tangy spices on the finish. Excellent.
A commemorative deluxe version is also available (€100) supporting GOAL’s earthquake relief in Venezuela.
- O’Briens; teelingdistillery.com/shop
