Portuguese wines continue to gain space in international restaurants and in the recommendations of gastronomy experts. Among historical producers, indigenous varieties and less conventional projects, some national references have gained prominence across borders, especially among professionals linked to the world of restoration and oenology.
According to the magazine, one of the wines recently recommended by Israel Ramírez, sommelier at the Saddle restaurant in Madrid, was the Portuguese Niepoort Drink Me Nat Cool White, a Douro reference priced at around 13 euros.
Portuguese wine highlighted in Madrid
Israel Ramírez works at Saddle, a Spanish restaurant known for the size and diversity of its wine cellar. According to the same source, the expert was asked about the wines he usually recommends to clients and chose three references, including this Portuguese white. The sommelier explained that the suggestion was designed for consumers accustomed to the world of wine. Ramírez described the wine as “an authentic barbarity”, adding that it is a proposal that “needs no justification” and was made to be enjoyed “without prejudice”.
The wine is part of the Nat Cool project, created by Portuguese producer Niepoort in partnership with other producers. The publication adds that the initiative sought to move away from the more traditional approach associated with many quality wines. The idea is to create light, direct and easy-to-drink references, without excess formality. According to the same source, the objective was to bring wine closer to more relaxed and less rigid moments from a gastronomic point of view.
Niepoort Drink Me Nat Cool White is produced in the Douro region using native Portuguese grape varieties. Among the varieties used are arinto, averse, white azal and white loureira. The grapes come from organically grown old vines, some aged between 40 and 100 years. According to the same source, the wine results from a low intervention approach throughout the production process.
The production follows a minimalist line. According to the same publication, fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks and the wine remains on fine lees for six months before bottling. The process ends without filtration, a choice that seeks to preserve the natural profile of the wine. This philosophy has accompanied the identity of the Nat Cool project since the beginning.
Light profile designed for informal meals
The Spanish sommelier highlighted the wine’s fresh profile and the ease with which it accompanies less formal meals. The white has citrus notes, floral touches and references to green apple. Acidity appears as one of the most evident characteristics, accompanied by a mineral profile often associated with Portuguese white wines. The publication adds that the wine does not seek extreme complexity, but focuses on freshness and personality.
It is important to highlight that wine is mainly suited to light dishes and moments of sharing at the table. Among the suggestions presented are seafood, tapas, salads, appetizers and mild-tasting fish. Israel Ramírez considers that wine works particularly well when the objective is to accompany the meal without imposing itself excessively on the other flavors. This versatility ends up being one of the main reasons for the recommendation.
Niepoort continues to gain notoriety
The producer Niepoort is one of the best-known Portuguese brands in the international wine sector. The Nat Cool project also helped bring new consumers closer to less traditional Portuguese references. The focus on lighter and more accessible wines has been gaining ground in different markets, especially among consumers looking for simpler and more relaxed proposals for daily consumption.
The recommendation made in Madrid once again places a Portuguese wine among the choices highlighted by international restaurant professionals. The publication mentions that Niepoort Drink Me Nat Cool White 2020 also received 90 Parker points. The combination of affordable price, organic production and a more informal profile helped transform this Portuguese reference into one of the choices mentioned by one of the experts linked to Spanish restoration.
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