From Vineyard to Gold Medal: Meet our award-winning Douro Red

Set among the picturesque hills of Portugal’s Douro Valley, you’ll find the vineyards behind our 2024 Irresistible Douro Red, which has just been awarded a Gold medal at this year’s Decanter World Wine awards – one of the most respected competitions in the global wine industry.

Here, Senior Wine Buying Manager Eleanor Pinfield shares more about the story behind the label.

Royal stamp of approval

Our award-winning red, which only launched into the range last year, is produced by the oldest wine company in Portugal – Real Companhia Velha, founded in 1756 under a Royal Charter issued by King D. José I of Portugal.

This heritage is impressive, but what really stands out to me is the team’s passion and deep connection to the Douro Valley. The family running the winery now own and manage some of the most important vineyard estates – known as quintas – across the region.

The wine is made by Jorge Moreira, one of Portugal’s most respected winemakers, who balances tradition with a fresh, modern approach alongside Viticulturist Álvaro Martinho, who manages around 1,800 acres of vineyards.

The place behind the bottle

The Douro Valley is one of the most extraordinary wine regions in the world. It was the first officially designated wine region, and today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. What I always find so striking when I visit are the dramatic, terraced vineyards carved into steep hillsides. These spectacular vineyards range from 80m to 500m above sea level, face different directions across steep hillsides, with summer temperatures reaching up to

45°C and unforgiving schist soils that force the vines to dig deep for nutrients.

Portugal is incredibly diverse too, with over 250 indigenous grape varieties – more than most other wine-producing country. That breadth is a big part of what makes Portuguese wines so exciting to discover and, in my view, still a bit of an insider’s secret for quality and value.

How the wine is made and how it tastes

One of the things I love about this producer is their passion for biodiversity and sustainability. The vineyards are farmed with minimal interventions, letting nature to play its part in producing the best fruit possible. They also ensure plenty of the estate is left wild to allow natural habitats and local plants to flourish.

The vines range from 10 to 40 years old and are hand-harvested, with only the best bunches selected. This extra care brings real depth, structure and character to the final wine.

Our wine is a blend of classic Douro varieties – Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional – and it’s exactly the kind of red I reach for time and time again. You’ll find aromas of ripe red berries and juicy cherries, with a gentle hint of violets. On the palate, it’s elegant, smooth and velvety; full of lively fruit, balanced by soft tannins. It can be served slightly chilled, for maximum freshness.

It’s a brilliant example of why the Douro continues to produce some of the best value wines in the world – and it’s fantastic to see our 2024 bottle recognised with a Gold medal.

Why not pick up a bottle of Co-op Irresistible Douro Red 2024, available in selected stores, and discover for yourself why this standout Portuguese red is worth celebrating.

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