650th Anniversary
Portuguese and British flags will be flying together this Friday, 16th June 2023, to mark the 650th anniversary of the signing of the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373 by Edward III of England and King Ferdinand and Queen Eleanor of Portugal.
It is the longest surviving treaty between two countries.
Therefore, to celebrate this momentous event, perhaps a lunch or dinner of English and Portuguese wines with food from both countries on Friday or over the weekend.
The feast might start with some Portuguese Petiscos - the equivalent of Spanish Tapas - combining prawns, tuna, crab, avocados and a host of other ingredients. Gav’s Kitchen has a collection of ideas that can easily be adapted. All washed down with your favourite English Sparkling Wine from Hattingley, Nyetimber, Hush Heath or Exton Park.
Then asparagus, perhaps mixed with trout and salmon in a salad from Jane Lovett’s latest book, ‘Deliciously Simple’, page 174. Accompanied by two English whites wines from Kent: Simpson’s Pinot Meunier and Chapel Down’s Kit’s Coty Chardonnay.
What could be better to liven the tastebuds than a classic, chili and herb induced, Portuguese dish of Peri Peri Chicken. Olive magazine has an online recipe that hits the mark. Casa Ferreirinha’s Callabriga and Prat & Symington’s 2019 Chryseia are more than rich enough to match this inspired concoction.
Moving to a generous selection of with English cheeses with Tawny or Vintage Port, finishing with pastéis de nara - Portuguese custard tarts - with lashings of raspberries.
There are lots of both English and Portuguese wines available from your local Waitrose and Majestic, as well as many independent off-licenses, but here are a few items that are a tad special:
Pinot Meunier 2022, Simpsons
Winery web site - £138.00 - for a case of six bottles.
Unusual to find a white wine made from black grapes. Pinot Meunière is one of the main grapes in the production of Champagne. I think that Simpsons first produced this wine around 5 years ago, and it is always a great wine for the summer. Colour is very pale with a very light hint of pink. Red apple, pears, and rich fruit on the nose. Wonderfully balanced fresh pears matched with light lemon acidity. Great texture and superb length. Refreshing and vibrant notes make it excellent drinking during the warm months ahead.
Kit’s Coty Chardonnay 2020, Chapel Down
Winery web site - £210.00 - for a case of six bottles
Kit’s Coty is Chapel Down’s flagship vineyard: 95 acres on the North Downs of Kent. Pale yellow in colour. Creamy brioche on the nose with a hint of honey. Reminiscent of a premier cru Chablis. Subtle charm with great finesse. Red apples with ripe pears showing characteristics of lees ageing giving an almost pastry-style finish. This wine can age superbly.
Callabriga 2020, Casa Ferreirinha
Vinum - £19.65
Deep bright purple colour. Oodles of ripe red and black fruits on the nose. Blossoming black currants and ripe red currants on the palate supported by firm tannins and very well balanced acidity. Good oak integration, plenty of spice, and a fine finish. Superb with a rich dish of chiken or pork.
Chryseia 2019, Prats & Symington
Vinum - £60.40
This is excellent. Deep, deep red. Nose is initially very closed and certainly needs decanting: a good two hours before serving. As it opens up you will experience layers and layers of rich and deeply scented fruits, combined with finely balanced acidity and considerable length. This is very polished and demonstrates how the top flight of still reds from Portugal have evolved over the last two decades. It will last until early 2040s.
