Porto Wine: Port, Vinho Verde and the Farmer's Rosé from the Tap

I went to Porto expecting to drink port. I came home with a bottle of pink port, a new appreciation for Vinho Verde, and a firm opinion about a farmer's rosé served from a tap in a 100-year-old tasca.In this episode I cover everything I drank on my recent trip: Vinho Verde at the Mercado do Bolhão paired with sardines, the Alvarinho from the Dão region that I'll be seeking out at home, and Espadal — the slightly sparkling farmer's rosé on tap at Tasca da Badalhoca, known locally as the wine of the poor and considerably better than that suggests. We also go into the Pink Palace at WOW and taste five glasses of rosé including Mateus Rosé, with a proper look at where it came from and how it connects to the Espadal tradition. Then it's on to port: the English connection, how fortification works, Ruby versus Tawny, the difference between vintage and blended, and why Late Bottled Vintage is where the value lies. Plus pink port and tonic, and why I think it might be the next Aperol Spritz.The European Compass is a podcast for culturally curious travellers who believe food is the best way into a place. New episodes explore food culture across Europe, not just what to eat, but what it means. Read the companion publication at theeuropeancompass.com