The Unique and Rare Jampal Grape: Exploring Portugal's Hidden Gem

The Jampal grape, also known as Jampel or Malvasia Fina de Jampal, is a unique and rare grape variety native to Portugal. It is believed to have originated in the Douro Valley region. It is predominantly grown in the Terras do Dão region, located in the country's central northern part.

The Jampal grape is a white grape known for its high acidity and aromatic qualities. It is said to produce wines with a rich, full-bodied flavor that is often described as having a mineral quality with notes of citrus, green apple, and stone fruits.

Jampal grapes are known for their thick skin, which helps protect them from the intense heat and sun the region is known for. They are also known for their resistance to disease, making them a popular choice for growers in the region.

Despite its unique and complex flavor profile, the Jampal grape has remained relatively unknown outside of Portugal. This is partly due to its rarity, as it is only grown on a small number of vineyards in the Terras do Dão region. In fact, as of 2021, only around 200 hectares of Jampal grapes were known to be cultivated in Portugal.

March edition of Winephabet Street we explored the Jampal grape with Special guest Direu Vianna Junior MW. a renowned Portuguese wine expert, who will share his insights on the near-extinct Jampal grape. 🌟  Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm (but does change depending on our schedules) and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, pour yourself a glass of wine and hang out with us. It is sponsored by Dracaena Wines and Trio North Wildwood.

Watch the webinar or listen to the podcast and you will:

🔍 Discover the history of Jampal

🥂 Learn about its unique flavor profile

🏞️ Explore winemaking techniques & regions

🎤 Hear firsthand accounts of reviving this rare grape

Webinar 

Podcast

 

Kitchen Wine: Sidonio d Sousa

You have to have a little bubbles in your life. Fact is all of us in the kitchen love bubbles. Sometimes Debbie will even saber out the back door. This particular even we uncorked a bottle of bubbles from Portugal - NV Sidonio de Sousa Espumante Brut Nature “Special Cuvee” with a base wine from 2015. This was the first bottle of bubbles from Portugal for all of us.

The wine is a blend of Maria Gomes, Bical and Arinto. These three grapes are all indigenous to Portugal and contribute different aspects to the wine.

Fernao Pires or Maria Gomes as it’s known in the Tejo and Bairrada region contributes a spicy aromatic character to the wine and some exotic fruity notes.

Bical is produced in the Bairrada region and is a high acid grape used in sparkling wine production.

Arinto is a white wine grape planted in the Bucelas, Tejo and Vinho Verde regions. It also produces high acid wines with ints of lemon.

The NV Sidonio de Sousa Espumante Brut Nature “Special Cuvee” spends 18 months on the lees. It has no dosage, is nice and dry with lively acidity. Nice lemon, green apple, and toasty notes. A hint of tropical fruit and very well balanced.

Chef’s pairing raw oyster definitely! Crab cakes and even some fried chicken.

I highly recommend this sparkling wine from Portugal! Priced so reasonable at $13, make it your house bubbly

Thinking Back to Boating with Esporão

As I sit her and begin to write about these two nice wines from Portugal I think back to the summer when I spent the afternoon boating with Esporão Verdelho and right now it’s snowing and we have a blizzard warning. Boy do I wish I was back on the boat sipping this delightful wine full of acidity, minerality and tropical fruits.

I haven’t experienced many wines from Portugal so when these two Esporão selections were offered to me as a sample I graciously said yes and so glad I did. I’m just sorry it’s taken me this long to put it down to share with you.

A little history on Esporão, they are a family owned producer of wines and olive oils. In 1973 José Roquette purchased the property Herdade do Esporão which is one of the oldest estates in Europe dating back to 1267. His vision is to produce exceptional table wines, but due to the Carnation Revolution their first vintage didn’t happen until 1985. Today José son João Roquette oversees Esporão and in 2008 they expanded to the Douro with the purchase of the 1714 historic property Quinta dos Murcas.

Very in-tune with historic preservation in 2003 Esporão received the approval to restore the Medieval Esporão Tower which was built in 1457. Today the ground floor houses the Perdigões Museum where you will find artifacts excavated from the Perdigões Settlement dating back to the 3rd Millennium BC.

The two wines I tried were the 2016 Verdelho and the 2015 Trincadeira, Herdade do Esporão from the Alentejo region in Portugal. Located about 100 miles southeast of Lisbon this estate has 4,500 acres which 1,300 are planted with vines and olive trees. The climate is very hot with not much rainfall and the soils are a combination of granite, schist and clay.

Herdade do Esporão 2016 Verdelho is a new grape varietal for me. It’s the white grape associated with Madeira wine. The grape thrives in hot sunny areas such as the Alentejo region. I immediately fell in love with this wine. Reminded me a little of a Sauvignon Blanc. Nice acidity but not overly zingy with tropical fruits like pineapple and grapefruit and hints of minerality. I enjoyed this on a hot summer day boating, but will pair well with fish and any occasion, just open and enjoy. SRP $14.

Enjoy the video from the winemaker talking about the Verdelho and you can see the estate it’s grown on.

Herdade do Esporão 2015 Trincadeira is another varietal new to me. This wine is 100% Trincadeira which is an indigenous grape to Portugal. The grapes are harvested by hand, fermented then aged for 6 months in cement tanks. The wine a nice color with aromas of cardamon, blckberry and black cherry. Soft on the palate and full of black fruit with a touch of licorice on the finish. Paired this with tomato soup and grilled cheese. This will be a nice everyday red wine. SRP $15

The Other Wines in the House

This week we travel to Oregon as we tasted Cornerstone Cellars 2008 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.  We received this selection with our Oregon Pinot Noir Club shipment. Robert Parker gave this wine a rating of 92 and there are only 50 cases of this wine produced.

This Pinot Noir had a beautiful bouquet of black cherry and red berry with hints of earthiness. 

The palate - well just say it put a smile on my face!  Black cherry, plum with earthy notes and soft tannins.  Very well crafted!  A wonderful wine!  Good job Craig Camp!

If you are interested where the grapes came from and how it was aged: 

75% Pommard clone, 25% 115 clone

50% Eola Hills AVA, 50% Yamhill Carlton AVA

15 months in 60 gallon French Oak barrels, 50% new, 50% 1 year old

We also opened a Valley of the Moon 2006 Port.  We were never into Port, but seem to be liking it these days. Especially when I am craving something sweet after dinner.   It agrees with me much better than the ice cream I would have plated for myself.

We purchased this port in October when we visited the winery. The port is a blend of 77% Souzao and 23% Syrah.  Aged in older French oak barrels for 24 months.  Comes in at 19% alcohol.

 Aromas of cherry, currants and hints of raisin on the nose.  

On the palate I found light raisin, currants ending with cinnamon and a hint of nutmeg.

Weekend in Boston

I just came back from a weekend with friends just south of Boston. We brought 5 bottles of wine with us...a bottle of 2007 Whitecliff Gamay Noir, 2006 Whitecliff Malbac, 2005 Goosecross Syrah, a 2002 J.Lohr Merlot and a Chappellet Cab. A wide assortment. Unfortunately they were all gone in one evening. I thought for sure they would last the weekend.

We had the chance to go fishing and saw lots of whales, but caught nothing to take home. We were in search for Tuna and Bass. Here's what I caught while bass fishing.
All things weren't bad as the day ended in Provincetown to a wonderful dinner at the Lobster Pot. Before dinner, we had quite the spread on the boat. A nice bottle of Periquita wine from Portugal with some cheese and crackers and smoked bass.