Grão Vasco Dão Tinto

Classic Dão character, made for everyday drinking.
The Dão has always had a slightly different idea of what a Portuguese red should be. While the Douro is often associated with power and concentration, the vineyards of the Dão sit higher, surrounded by mountains and rooted in granite soils, where cool nights help preserve the freshness that gives the region its distinctive style. Grão Vasco captures that character in a remarkably accessible bottle.

Made from a traditional blend of Portuguese varieties including Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Alfrocheiro and Jaen, it is all about fresh fruit rather than oak or heavy extraction. The grapes are gently crushed and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, with the finished wine remaining unoaked so that the lively fruit and natural freshness stay at the centre of the picture.

For wine drinkers in Ireland, Grão Vasco is a lovely introduction to the more elegant side of Portuguese red wine. Ruby-red in colour, packed with strawberry, blackberry and cherry, and finished with rounded tannins and refreshing acidity, it is uncomplicated in the best possible way: a bottle you can open on a Tuesday night, put on the dinner table and know it will work.

Why we love it:
A classic, unfussy Dão red with exactly the balance that makes the region so appealing: generous ripe fruit, gentle tannins and a lively streak of acidity. It is easy-going enough for everyday drinking but has enough regional personality to remind you that there is much more to Portuguese wine than big, rich reds.