Silk & Spice Red Blend

Silk & Spice Red Blend is a 750ml Portuguese red wine (13.5% ABV) blending three native grape varieties into a rich, spice-driven expression. Awarded 91 points by Wine Enthusiast for the 2023 vintage, this wine has earned 90-plus scores from the publication for six consecutive years — and its 2016 vintage landed at #15 on Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Best Buys of 2018.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5%  |  Origin: Portugal  |  Style: Red Blend  |  Producer: Sogrape

Production & Heritage

Silk & Spice is produced by Sogrape, one of Portugal's largest and most established wine producers. The blend draws on three distinct native Portuguese varieties — 40% Touriga Nacional, 30% Alicante Bouschet, and 30% Baga — each harvested and vinified separately before blending. Alcoholic fermentation runs approximately eight days at 26°C, and the finished wine is aged exclusively in stainless steel vats with no oak contact, preserving the pure fruit character and vibrant spice notes of the grapes. Portugal's remarkable catalog of over 250 indigenous grape varieties gives the winemaking team a palette unavailable in most wine-producing countries, and the brand's concept pays homage to the Portuguese explorers who opened the Spice Route in 1498, introducing nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and pepper to Western commerce.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe blackberries and cooked plum dominate the nose, followed by layered spice notes of black pepper and pink peppercorn. Subtle hints of vanilla and mocha emerge as the wine opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is rich and full, with concentrated dark fruit flavors — blackberry and ripe plum — taking center stage. Mid-palate, warm spice notes of vanilla and cracked pepper build, while balanced tannins and bright acidity keep the wine from tipping into heaviness. The overall impression is generous yet structured.

Finish: The finish is long and smooth, with lingering dark fruit sweetness and a peppery warmth that slowly fades. Fine-grained tannins give the close a polished texture without astringency.

How to Drink Silk & Spice

Serve at 60–65°F in a standard red wine glass. The wine drinks well on its own with no decanting required, though 15–20 minutes of air can further soften the tannins. For cocktails and mixed drinks: a Kalimotxo (equal parts red wine and cola over ice) benefits from the wine's bold fruit and spice; a Red Wine Spritzer with sparkling water and an orange slice highlights its refreshing acidity; and a Sangria made with brandy, sliced stone fruit, and cinnamon sticks amplifies the wine's inherent spice character.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners that call for a reliable, food-friendly red
• Introducing someone to Portuguese wines for the first time
• Casual entertaining where crowd-pleasing flavor is the priority
• Building a case of everyday reds without sacrificing quality

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Silk & Spice taste like? Silk & Spice delivers ripe blackberry and plum flavors layered with black pepper, pink peppercorn, and subtle vanilla, finishing smooth and long. The overall profile is fruit-forward and warmly spiced with balanced acidity.

How does Silk & Spice compare to Apothic Red? Both are popular red blends at a similar price tier, but Silk & Spice is built entirely from Portuguese native grapes (Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet, Baga) with no oak aging, giving it a brighter acidity and spicier edge. Apothic Red, by contrast, uses California varieties and incorporates oak influence, resulting in a rounder, sweeter profile.

Is Silk & Spice good for everyday sipping? Absolutely — the wine was designed as an approachable, fruit-driven red that requires no special occasion. Its consistent 90-plus-point track record from Wine Enthusiast confirms it over-delivers for its value tier.

Where is Silk & Spice made? Silk & Spice is produced in Portugal by Sogrape, the country's leading wine producer. The blend sources from Portuguese vineyards that cultivate Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet, and Baga, three of Portugal's most important native red varieties.

What foods pair well with Silk & Spice? Grilled chorizo or chouriço sausages complement the wine's peppery spice. Slow-braised short ribs match its dark fruit intensity. Aged Manchego or São Jorge cheese echoes its Iberian roots. Eggplant parmigiana pairs well with the wine's acidity and body. Dark-chocolate-covered almonds mirror its subtle mocha undertone.

What sizes does Silk & Spice come in? The standard format is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available size.

Is Silk & Spice worth the price? Silk & Spice positions squarely in the value tier, and its six consecutive years of 90-plus scores from Wine Enthusiast — including a Best Buy designation — make it one of the strongest quality-to-price propositions among red blends available in the U.S. market.

Why Silk & Spice?

Consistency is what separates Silk & Spice from the hundreds of red blends competing for shelf space. Earning 90 or more points from Wine Enthusiast six years running is a feat very few value-tier wines can claim. The decision to use only stainless steel — no oak barrels, no shortcuts to artificial complexity — means the personality of three distinctive Portuguese grapes comes through unmasked. For drinkers looking beyond the usual California and Australian blends, Silk & Spice offers a genuinely different flavor profile rooted in grape varieties most of the world has yet to discover.