Portugal isn't simply the home of fortified wine and crackling Mateus (bubbly pink wine in that short, squat bottle); these days Portuguese producers are crafting some of the best value-priced reds and whites available. Perusing the generally-smaller Portuguese sections of Liquor Marts and wine stores, it's hard to find a wine over $20.

Like many of their Spanish and Italian counterparts, Portuguese winemakers have typically worked diligently on crafting wines from indigenous grape varietals (Tinta Roriz, Malvasia and Bastardo, for example) rather than those that dominate the global market (Shiraz, Chardonnay, etc.). However, globally popular varietals are now creeping into Portuguese table wines at a steady rate, throwing their D.O.C. certification (similar to France's A.O.C. or Canada's VQA certification boards) into disarray.

Try as I might, I couldn't track down which grapes are in this wine -- I'm guessing they're local varietals. This pale, straw-coloured white offers fresh grapefruit and a hint of flint on the nose, with the citrus fruit persisting on a surprisingly long finish. It's a stellar value -- a great alternative to big Chardonnays.