I always like a good story.
One sprung on me at the Wines of Portugal tasting (April 16) at the Muse Hotel in New York theater district.
When I saw the label gracing the Cabeca de Burro, the first thing that came to mind was 'tete de mule' (a French expression for hard headed, stubborn).
The label is a creation of Caves Vale do Rodo in Peso da Régua (Douro region).
The story behind the Cabeca de Burro name is that the growers-members of the Caves Vale do Rodo cooperative thought that the methods and ideas of then just hired winemaker would never work, that he was a 'burro', stupid and stubborn or maybe ignorant.
It comes in both white (tasted 2007) and red (tasted 2005).
The white (Branco) is a blend of Malvasia, Rabigato and Fernao Pires. Vineyards are at an altitude between 300 and 500 meters above sea. Light with a lemony color. Good warm weather wine.
For the red (Tinto), they used Touriga Francesca, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca from vineyards from Baixo Corgo…Robust
Unfortunately, these wines as most of the others I tasted at the Wines of Portugal tasting which showcased the production of Cooperatives are not available in the US.
Other offerings from the same producer that I liked were first the Porto Reccua White with its golden color as well as their very rich Port Vintage 2004 (not aged in wood) and their great Tawny.
Portuguese wines have been shadowed by their Spanish cousins for too long as Marisa D'Vari writes (March 17, 2009) on A Wine Story.
I will tell you more about the tasting in the coming days.
Sante!