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I so appreciate this. The last time I returned from Portugal, my doctor asked me how much I drank there. When I said, wine every day, sometimes twice a day, she admonished me. But it’s part of the lifestyle (in moderation) and it felt healthy. I’m curious to hear your thoughts on Portuguese “natural” wines.

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Whereas here in Portugal I'm going through fertility treatments and not once have they ever asked me how much I drinkI It's interesting how differrent it is in different cultures

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Hey Charlie! I loved this piece and resonates so much. And, I'd love to quote you/interview you about your work with natural wine in a particular region! (Let me know how to connect). Thank you!

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Hey Sarah sorry for the delay in replying to this. I'd be very happy to either be quoted or interviewed, whatever works for you! You can get me at charliebrownwriter@gmail.com

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Oct 4, 2023Liked by Charlie Brown

Any hints for finding natural wine in Portugal? We recently visited Ysios, in Rioja Spain and I had the best white wine I've ever tasted --natural (I think), and aged in amphora. (I'm not usually a fan of whites)

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That's cool! White Riojas are seriously on the up, some of them are sooooo delicious. Ysios isn't a natural winery, but they're very well respected. And of course have the most insane winery. I've never been, but I love Laguardia. We have a friend making natural wines there, on an industrial estate of all things!

In Portugal it depends where you are and if you want to pick up bottles, drink in bars, or visit wineries.

If bottles and bars the best natural wine places are concentrated in Porto and Lisbon. Cave Bombarda, The Lab and Cave do Bon Vivant in Porto and Senhor Uva, Comida Independente and Vino Vero in Lisbon are go-tos.

If wineries, the best thing would be to probably google natural wineries (or organic wineries) in X and see what comes up.

Natural wine becoming more popular in Portugal but it's not easy here because many small wineries are not in charge of the grape growing. That's often done by older Portuguese folk who aren't all that keen on having to work to organics, so natural winemakers have to find the right people to buy grapes from. But it's coming.

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Everything in moderation....

Plus the alcohol is not the only concern, given the levels of chemicals and sugar.

Enlightening piece, thanks 🙏

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Everything in moderation indeed!

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