From: Lisboa, Portugal
Varietals: Touriga Nacional, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
Tasting Notes: This charmingly approachable Portuguese red is delicious and affordable! Bold, fruit-forward flavors featuring dark berries and a hint of spice are wrapped in silky smooth tannins and balanced acidity. Its versatile and easy-drinking appeal will make this a new go-to for weeknight wine pairings or a glass after work.
Pairing: Seriously unserious and delish, this wine will pair all sorts of favorites. Homemade chili (vegetarian chili, too!), smash burgers, tacos de lengua, gyro or kefta takeout, chicken, beef, or even tofu teriyaki, meatballs (check out Moroccan-inspired recipe below), pizza, lasagna, skillet or one-pot chicken recipes, and the range of braises or grilled meats and vegetables all work wonderfully well.
Moroccan-Spiced Chicken Meatballs
By Lidey Heuck
About. Many thanks to our importer friends for the following information and highlights.
- This is a rare blend of three different grape varieties; Touriga Nacional, Cabernet
Sauvignon, and Syrah.
- The grapes are harvested from vineyards planted on the gentle Arruda dos Vinhos slopes, with altitudes ranging from 100 to 250 meters.
- The vines benefit from excellent sun exposure and a climate slightly tempered by the Atlantic Ocean, which is about 35 km or less than 22 miles from the property.
Q.S.S. Rare is a label of Quinta De S. Sebastião, a winery in the village of Arruda dos Vinhos, a sub-region of Portugal’s Lisbon main region (just south of Alenquer). It was established in 1755, the same year an earthquake devastated the area. The tradition of winemaking in Arruda dos Vinhos goes back more than 1,000 years. Today, Quinta De S. Sebastião is owned and operated by Antonio Parente.
The award-winning Q.S.S. Rare line of wine was created for two reasons: to offer vibrant and modern wines produced from an ancient terroir and to support the cause of saving endangered wildlife. A percentage of each sale goes to support organizations such as The League for the Protection of Nature to prevent the extinction of species crucial to the environment from tigers to seahorses.
The vineyards are sited on the same sunny, clay-limestone hills as “Forte do Cego”, an old military installation that helped defend Lisbon against the invading army of Napoléon Bonapart. Elevations range from 70 to 450 meters. The climate is Mediterranean with a strong Atlantic influence. The winery is only about 30 kilometers from the Atlantic but mountains protect the vines from the powerful oceanic winds. These are the same winds that create the famed towering waves revered by surfers.
Q.S.S. Rare wines are crafted by winemaker Filipe Sevinate Pinto who has been with the winery since 2012. He holds a degree from the Instituto Superior de Agronomia and has experience working internationally.
The vineyards’ soils for Q.S.S. Rare are predominantly clay-limestone. Their cool summer nights and mild winters are crucial for the production of this excellent wine. The wine spends 6-months aging in French oak barrels prior to release.
