Wine of the Week! 10/01/24

CARMIM Terras D'el Rei
Vinho Regional Alentejano

Normally $9.99 / Now on Sale for $7.96
Trincadeira, Aragonez (Tempranillo), Castelão (Alentejo region)

Reguengos de Monsaraz is a small, small city in the northeastern part of south Portugal. Still, it’s the second largest city in the Évora district. To get to it from the district’s capitol means driving a winding road flanked by olive trees and cork trees and nesting storks. Corks and storks, and then you get to Reguengos de Monsaraz with its medieval city and its renowned stargazing due to their anti-air pollution Dark Sky Project. However Reguengos de Monsaraz also means wine. So much so that in 2015 they petitioned the European Network of Wine Cities and beat out two other petitioners to be 2015’s European wine capitol. It is here, in Reguengos de Monsaraz, that you will find wine cooperative CARMIM.

CARMIM is the Cooperativa Agrícola de Reguengos de Monsaraz. Created in 1971, they now have 800 members producing wine, brandy, and olive oil, making it Alentejo’s largest winery and one of the largest in the country.

Taking its name from an old name of the town, the Terras D’el Rei red blend is half Trincadeira with the rest being a rough split between Aragonez (Tempranillo) and Castelão. Trincadeira is less known by its more official name Tinta Amarela. Difficult to grow and harvest, more and more Portugal vineyards are opting to grow other, less labor intensive grapes. Still, under the right conditions, Trincadeira boasts richly flavored fruit with ample tannins. Castelão is a popular Portuguese blending grape that can offer deep pigments and structure to its wines.

All those tannins are well-applied in the Terras D’el Rei as they provide balance to its plum-like, berry fruit, (Both Trincadeira and Castelão are no strangers to port.) suggesting a slight spiciness. It’s rich enough for roasted meats or sautéed mushrooms, but restrained enough to be a comfortable, everyday wine.