Review: Guarda Rios Signature

We now head to the opposite end of Portugal. Alentejo is a larger wine-producing region covering almost a third of the country’s south. It’s a region known for its appealing and robust red wines and here we are right on the money.

A few years ago, Guarda Rios from Portugal became the darling of wine drinkers looking for quality and value. It was $10.95 a bottle (now $11.95) and some were buying it by the case. With good reason. It tasted like a real wine with complexity of fruit and a hint of rusticity that made it perfect for protein off the grill. 

Now comes their Signature label, a wine with a softer mouthfeel and plush fruit of crushed dark berries and plums.

The wine has seen some oak, giving it a modest toastiness and hints of vanilla. This 2022 vintage wine also benefits from some age, softening the tannins further.

There are aromas of chocolate and black pepper and both the tannins and acidity are nicely balanced against the roundness of the fruit. For $15 you’re getting a well-made, complex wine that over-delivers for the money.

Pair it with chargrilled meats or better yet, sticky Korean-style beef ribs. That’s a match!