Editor’s note: When Ryan and I visited Obidos in 2003, we had found a quaint little bed and breakfast run by a woman named Melana. Weary and hungry from traveling with our large backpacks filled with wine, we sat down in her living room decorated more like a cozy ski lodge than a traditional Portuguese home, and were each served a glass of Ginja. Brilliant red in color with a rich and pungent cherry aromas, we fell in love with this drink. Beyond its sweet and delicious flavor, we learned that it is customary to serve it to guests upon entry into your home. We bought a bottle that day, and savored it for over a year with friends as they visited our little Minneapolis flat. Although this beverage is not easy to find, if you are in Portugual, I highly suggest you pick up a bottle, or if you have already tried it, please let us know if there was label that you particularly enjoyed!

Most people are familiar with Ruby Port, the fortified wine which inherited its name from its lovely red color, renowned for its ripe fruit flavors and sweetness that pairs perfectly with the dark, bitter flavors of chocolate. So what if I told you that there existed another delicious and unctuous wine that still marries beautifully with chocolate but is indigenous to a small little Portuguese town in the core of Estremadura? Interested? Well, then look no further than the medieval town of Obidos, home to the sweet cherry liquor, Ginja.

Just a 45 minute drive outside of Lisbon, Obidos sits at the crest of a hill, surrounded by its very historical and picturesque castle, dating back to the 13th century when …

1998 Companhia Agricola do Sanguinhal Óbidos Quinta das Cerejeiras Reserva - Portugal, Estremadura, Óbidos (10/26/2006)Pours light red with a faint brickishness at the rim. Dark honey notes on the nose with toast and hazelnuts. With time some violet notes creep in. Light in the mouth with light acidity and fully mature tannins that present no resistance on the palate. Dusty fruit in the mouth with strawberry, rhubarb notes, and some minerals. Cherry comes in as it opens up more and fleshes it out a bit. The nuts and toast notes from the nose, only drift in and out as the wine breathes.