Portugal is officially the world's 7th biggest wine producer and most of it's wines are of a reasonably good quality but do not compare with the classic wines of producers such as France or Germany. However there are a few estates that do produce wines of a high quality and Portugal also produces some unique varieties of wine.
Wine in portugal is classified as green (young) or ripe. The green wines form a class known as Vinho Verde (green wine) which despite it's name comes in both red and white. These wines are semi-sparkling wine and have a slightly biting or prickling quality and a refreshing twang.
Portugal is perhaps best known for Port produced in the Douro valley and bottled and exported from Villa Nova da Gaia in Porto. There are two other fortified wines procuced in Portugal, Madeira and the lesser known Moscatel.
There are 13 wine producing regions in Portugal the most famous of which are Port, Rios do Minho, Dão, Bairrada, Estremadure, Ribatejo, Alentejo, Madeira and Setubal.
Some of the country's better known producers include Sogrape (Mateus Rose) , Quinta de Fojo, Esporao,J.Portugal Ramos Vinhos, Quinta de Parrotes, Quinta de Pancas, Quinta de Cabriz, Quinta de Cotto, Marques de Borba, Fonseca, Taylor, Graham, Churchill, Casa dos Vinhos de Madeira
Ginjinha is a sweet liqueur unique to Portugal, made by adding small sour cherries, known as ginja, to Portuguese brandy (aguardente, which loosely translates as firewater!). This mixture, along with some sugar and other ingredients, is left to infuse in a similar way to sloe gin, and produces a rich ruby-red drink. It is enjoyed as both aperitif and digestif, or whenever the fancy takes you.