Page 78 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2023 LISBON EDITION

from Wine Spectator. But mostly it’s trial and walls that dispense tastes. You can do flights of,
error - a wine enthusiast Russian roulette. If you say, bubby or reds, and you can book personal
lose, pour out the offending bottle and try again and group tastings. These are a kind of Por-
until you find a wine that hits your sweet spot. tuguese wine 101 where guests learn about the
You can also do wine tastings in shops and wine regions and grape varieties. We enjoyed a
wineries all over Portugal, but that can be ex- private tasting from expert Luis Mota that was
pensive and time-consuming. In Lisbon, Wines informative and gratifying.
of Portugal Tasting Room on Plaza Comercial of- Still, after a month here… and several previ-
fers a fun, easy shortcut, drawing on their large, ous visits to Portugal, learning about Por-
ever-changing selection of wines from around tuguese wines is a lifelong undertaking. It’s an
the country. The main tasting room is large and education I’m happy to continue. Cheers or, as
comfortable, with automatic machines lining the they say in Portugal—Saude!

78 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2023