By LARRY HAMPTON
Seventy-three members of the Algarve Wine Society and their guests met in the roof top restaurant of the EVA Hotel in Faro on September 19.
The panoramic view of old Faro, the harbour and the Ria Formosa in the late afternoon sun was magnificent, but there was a more serious purpose for the meeting, which marked the start of the Society’s autumn programme.
The Monte Novo e Figueirinha winery was founded near Beja in 1998 by Comendador Leonel Cameirinha and today produces just over one million bottles of Alentejo wine in the Adega built in 2003.
The company’s Commercial Director, José Gonçalves, had come down to Faro to present the best of his winery’s products to the society.
Foremost amongst these were some really exciting reds, including the single varietals Herdade de Figueirinha Syrah and Touriga Nacional 2006, an excellent Fonte Mouro Reserva 2004 and, the pièce de résistance, Fonte Mouro Garrafeira 2003.
The assemblage also learned that Monte Novo e Figueirinha is a major producer of top quality extra virgin olive oil, processing seven million tons of olives annually in its lagar.
 Erla Walther, Elsbeth Graf and Anita Rottland |  |
The best of its production (having just 0.1-0.2% acidity) is kept for its own Herdade de Figueirinha label but the oil is so good that it is in great demand and is bottled by the company for a number of other labels, like Cortes de Cima, Maladinha Novo and Santa Vitoria.
After the tasting everyone moved into the restaurant proper next door for a lovely dinner, featuring a mozzarella and tomato salad followed by pork tenderloin stuffed with sausage on a bed of cabbage and boiled salt potatoes. Dessert was a sumptuous chocolate cake. All was complemented, of course, by tasty Monte Novo e Figueirinha wines.
The next event will be a trip to the Ribatejo area for 36 members of the society from October 1 to 5. On November 14, a group of five young winemakers of Portugal will present their wines, from the Minho, Douro, Bairrada and Ribatejo areas, at the Holiday Inn in Armação de Pêra. And on December 7, the Society will have its traditional Christmas lunch at Vila Monte in Moncarapacho, featuring festive seasonal dishes and the wonderful Bairrada wines of Carlos Campolargo.
Membership in The Algarve Wine Society is at its upper limit, and there is a waiting list, but if you would like information about, or to join the waiting list of, The Algarve Wine Society, please contact the Secretary Larry Hampton: hampton@mail.telepac.pt
