Porta 6 wine in Ireland: every version explained

Porta 6 is a Portuguese wine brand from Vidigal Wines. It comes as Tinto (red), Reserva, white, rosé, Vinho Verde and Sparkling Brut, in 75cl bottles, magnums, PET bottles and bag-in-box. Garrafeira da Ilha sends it from Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, to Ireland. This guide goes through each version, using only what our product pages say.

Where does Porta 6 come from?

Porta 6 is made by Vidigal Wines. Trade press describes Vidigal as the owner of the Porta 6 brand, and Decanter lists a Vidigal Porta 6 white under the Lisboa region of Portugal.

Wines of Portugal describes Lisboa as rolling hills along the Atlantic coast north of Lisbon. Vines near the coast feel a strong Atlantic influence, while inland vines are protected by hills and have a more Mediterranean climate.

The reds: Tinto and Reserva

Porta 6 Tinto is the original and the one most people mean by "Porta 6 red wine". Our product page calls it tasty and light-bodied, and lists the blend as 50% Aragonez, 40% Castelão and 10% Touriga Nacional. Another page on the site, for a mixed case, describes it as a Portuguese blend with ripe red berries, a touch of black cherry and a soft, rounded finish.

Porta 6 Reserva is the step up. The product page describes a dark ruby colour, an intense aroma of wild and black berries and spices with a slight touch of chocolate, and a fruity mouth with structure. Its page lists 40% Syrah, 20% Alicante Bouschet, 20% Cabernet and 20% Touriga Nacional. If Tinto is the easy one, Reserva is the one with more shape.

Both sit in our red wine collection.

The whites, rosé and sparkling

Porta 6 Branco is the plain white. The page describes it as fresh, alive and crisp.

Porta 6 Vinho Verde has a citric colour with pale greenish tones, a fruity aroma with hints of tropical fruit and flowers, and a slight sweetness in the mouth.

Porta 6 Rosé is the pink one, and it is described in the same fresh, crisp terms as the Branco.

Porta 6 Sparkling Brut has a citrus colour and a fresh, fruity aroma of green apple, tropical fruit and lemon. The mouth is lively and fresh, with a fruity finish of fresh apple.

You can see the still whites together in our white wine collection.

Magnum, PET and bag-in-box: the same name in other sizes

Porta 6 is not only sold in 75cl glass.

• The Magnum Porta 6 Tinto is a 1.5L bottle of the red.
• The Porta 6 Red PET 750ml puts the red in a plastic bottle that is lighter than glass. There are white and rosé PET versions too. The full range is in our PET wines collection.
• The Porta 6 Red 3L and Porta 6 White 3L are bag-in-box. The red page suggests grilled meats and hearty stews. The white page suggests shellfish, salads and simple weeknight meals. Find them in the bag-in-box collection.

The Porta 6 Tasting Box holds 12 bottles: four Red, two White, two Rosé, two Reserve and two Vinho Verde. It is the quickest way to try most of the range in one order.

Cases and wines from the same producer

If you plan to order more than one bottle, a case is the usual route. A few of ours are built around Porta 6:

• The Best Porta 6 12 bottles Case is described as a way to taste all the wines produced by the Porta 6 winemakers. It includes Red, White, Vinho Verde, Rosé, Red Reserve and Sparkling, plus other wines from the same winemakers.
• The Porta 6 Family All Reds case holds two bottles each of six reds, one of them Porta 6 Red.

Vidigal Wines also makes Painted Cat Red and Painted Cat White. The Painted Cat Red by Vidigal page describes ripe red fruit, smooth tannins and a soft finish, in a glass bottle. It is written for people who already like Porta 6 Red. The Painted Cat White by Vidigal page does the same for fans of Porta 6 White, with bright fruit notes and a clean, balanced finish.

Which Porta 6 should you start with?

We would pick by what is on the table, not by the label.

• Red with a barbecue, a casserole or a stew: Tinto. Reserva if you want more structure.
• White or Vinho Verde with shellfish or salad: the Branco, or the 3L white if you get through a lot of it.
• Something to open for a toast: the Sparkling Brut.
• Not sure: the Tasting Box.

Buying Porta 6 for delivery to Ireland

We are a wine shop in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. We deliver to Ireland and other European countries. The delivery cost is worked out per order and shown in your cart before you pay. We sell only to people aged 18 or over. Customers have left us 3,500+ reviews on Trustpilot.

Frequently asked questions

Is Porta 6 a Portuguese wine?

Yes. It is made by Vidigal Wines. A Vidigal Porta 6 reviewed by Decanter is listed under the Lisboa region.

What is the difference between Porta 6 Tinto and Porta 6 Reserva?

Our product page calls Tinto tasty and light-bodied. The Reserva page describes dark ruby colour, wild and black berry aromas with spice and a hint of chocolate, and a fruity mouth with structure. We would call Reserva the more structured of the two.

What does Reserva mean on a Portuguese label?

On a Portuguese wine with a protected origin, Portaria 239/2012 reserves "Reserva" for wine from a single harvest year, with outstanding tasting character and at least 0.5% vol. more alcohol than the legal minimum. It is not a fixed ageing period.

Can I buy Porta 6 in bag-in-box?

Yes. We sell a 3L red and a 3L white, both in bag-in-box.

Sources

• Just Drinks: Porta 6 owner Vidigal Wines acquired by Portugal's Abegoaria Group
• Decanter: Vidigal, Porta 6, Lisboa, Portugal, 2021
• Wines of Portugal: Lisboa
• Diário da República: Portaria n.º 239/2012, de 9 de agosto
• Product pages at garrafeiradailha.com for tasting notes, grapes and regions of the wines named above.

Please enjoy wine responsibly and in moderation. Our wines are sold only to people aged 18 or over. For facts about alcohol, visit drinkaware.ie.