by Dr. Luis Antunes
Last night, for the 10th consecutive year, Revista de Vinhos gathered the Who s Who in Portuguese wine to present awards to the best of 2006. The ceremony took place during a dinner in the Porto s Custom s building, overlooking the Douro estuary. Over 800
people attended, with producers, winemakers, technicians, distributors, négotiants, journalists, and other economics agents, including Portugal s Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Jaime Silva.
Awards were given for Best Buys and Best of Region , but the big moments were reserved for the Awards of Excellence and individual awards for people and companies that have excelled in 2006. According to Luis Lopes, director of Revista de Vinhos, never before have there been so many great wines in Portugal. Since we want to maintain a limited number of awards of excellence, only 28 this year, it is getting harder and harder to select the prize winners.
Here is the list of the main awards:
- Producer of the year: Domingos Alves de Sousa (Douro)
- Company of the year: Dão Sul (Dão) and Niepoort (Douro and Porto)
- Revelation of the year: Altas Quintas (Portalegre, Alentejo)
- Winemaker of the year: Luís Duarte
- Viticulturist of the year: Real Companhia Velha (Douro)
- Company of the year (Fortified Wines): Bacalhôa Vinhos de Portugal (Setúbal)
- Winemaker of the year (Fortified Wines): Peter and Charles Symington
- Cooperative of the year: Agr. de St. Isidro de Pegões (Palmela)
- Organisation of the year: Instituto Superior de Agronomia (Lisbon)
- Wine tourism of the year: Quinta Nova Nossa Senhora do Carmo (Douro)
- Wine shop of the year: Garrafeira Restaurante Veneza (Algarve)
- Sommelier of the year: Licínio Carnaz (Ritz Four Seasons, Lisboa)
- Restaurant of the year: Amadeus (Almancil, Algarve)
- Restaurant of the year (Traditional Portuguese Cuisine): O Galito (Lisboa)
- Special Award of Gastronomy: José Quitério
- Grand Wine Master of the year: José Casais
- Awards of excellence:
Murganheira Vintage 2002 (Espumante Távora-Varosa)
Muros de Melgaço Alvarinho 2005 (White Vinho Verde)
Abandonado 2004 (Red Douro)
Barca Velha 1999 (Red Douro)
Batuta 2004 (Red Douro)
Charme 2004 (Red Douro)
CV 2004 (Red Douro)
Pintas 2004 (Red Douro)
Quinta do Crasto Vinha da Ponte 2004 (Red Douro)
Quinta do Vale Meão 2004 (Red Douro)
Redoma Reserva 2005 (White Douro)
Paço dos Cunhas de Santar Vinha do Contador 2004 (Red Dão)
Quinta de Foz de Arouce Vinhas Velhas de Santa Maria 2003 (Red Beiras)
Quinta de Pancas Premium 2003 (Red Estremadura)
Leo D honor Grande Escolha 2003 (Red Palmela)
Hexagon 2003 (Red Terras Do Sado)
Esporão Private Selection Garrafeira 2003 (Red Alentejo)
Torre Do Esporão 2004 (Red Alentejo)
Herdade Dos Grous Reserva 2004 (Red Alentejo)
Pêra-Manca 2003 (Red Alentejo)
Herdade Perdigão Reserva 2004 (Red Alentejo)
Quinta do Mouro 2003 (Red Alentejo)
Marquês de Borba Reserva 2003 (Red Alentejo)
Dourat 2003 (Vinho De Mesa Douro and Priorat)
Dom Rozès (Over 40 Years Old Porto)
Krohn 1966 (Porto Colheita)
José Maria da Fonseca Moscatel Roxo 1971 (Moscatel de Setúbal)
Blandy Bual 1948 (Madeira)
