Dear Editor,
I have been reading Patrick Stuart’s weekly column on wine in your newspaper for some time now and am sorry to see that he has turned his attention away from Portuguese wines to concentrate on foreign wines that are available over here.
I have seen more and more restaurants adding foreign wines to their lists over recent years and space being taken up on the shelves of supermarkets; something I find quite sad if you think of the superb quality of the wines produced here and the state of the Portuguese economy.
And now to see your newspaper publicising foreign wines is even more of a concern. Our country is in a deep recession and I am of the opinion that restaurants and shopsshould boycott all foreign wines apart from those that are absolutely essential, such as Champagne and Sherry.
If Portugal produces perfectly good Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay then why should we be paying to drink similar wines flown in from half way around the world? The carbon footprint alone of every such bottle should be considered, not to mention the money it is taking out of the pocket of the Portuguese producers.
So Mr. Stuart, I for one will abstain from reading your column until you return to reviewing wines that are produced here in Portugal.
João Xabregas
By e-mail
Editor’s note: Dear João, thank you for your comments. Our contributor Patrick Stuart is currently abroad but has confirmed that he will reply to your letter in next week’s edition of the Algarve Resident.
