There are few wine regions in the world – if any – as spectacular as the Douro Valley, where stone walls cascade down steep terraces as the river snakes below. In this instalment of The Drinking Hour podcast, David Kermode chats to Carlos Agrellos, technical director of Quinta do Noval, delving into the history of the estate, established in 1715, and unearthing its latest innovations.
Over the course of the episode the pair discuss port declarations, the recent rise of still wines in the Douro, the bounty of native grapes Agrellos has to work with, and the jewel in Noval’s crown – the coveted Nacional – made from 2ha of ungrafted, pre-phylloxera vines. Having been born into a Portuguese winemaking family and educated in Bordeaux, Agrellos strives to craft wines with a sense of place, coaxing the character out of each parcel and plot.
Discover more episodes of The Drinking Hour with David Kermode here
