Willie Little, Chef Proprietor of the award winning Littles Restaurant in Blairgowrie, is celebrating bringing an authentic range of Portuguese wines to Scotland for the very first time.
Together with his long-term friend, and fellow hospitality professional, Sandy Fraser, who owns the Oak Tree Inn in Balmaha, Loch Lomond, Willie will be offering his customers Paxa Wines, which come from a vineyard south east of the city of Silves in Portugal, a city with an ancient wine history.
Littles, together with The Oak Tree Inn, are the first commercial outlets in the UK to stock this range of wines.
Created by father and son Joaquim and Tiago Lopes in 2008, grapes for the Paxa wines are planted in a special terroir of clay-limestone soil, which gives the flavours of the grapes very unique characteristics, allowing Joaquim and Tiago to produce award-winning wines of the very highest quality.
Having completed a “wine research trip” to Portugal last year, Willie and Sandy were delighted to discover Paxa Wines, and even more pleased when Joaquim and Tiago agreed to let them stock the wine.
“I’ve holidayed in Portugal for many years,” said Willie, “It’s an area of the world I really love, especially the cuisine, and, of course, the wines. I’ve been looking for a range of very special wine for a while now that I could bring to Scotland in an exclusive deal. Sandy, an old friend, was of the same opinion as myself that he also was looking for something special and unique for his customers to try.”
“We both decided to embark on something of a wine pilgrimage for our businesses. It was very much a case of going down many dusty roads, and travelling off the beaten track! We wanted to uncover something really special and authentic, and support a Portuguese business at the same time. In finding the amazing Paxa Wines, we have most definitely done that. Our thanks go to Joaquim and Tiago. They are beyond excited that their lovingly created wine has found its way to Scotland, and particularly to two of the most popular picturesque places in Scotland, Perthshire and Loch Lomond.
“Both of us are really pleased to have these wines in our restaurants now, with customers able to sample and taste. We can’t wait to get their feedback. It’s reinvigorated us at a time when it’s still really tough for hospitality businesses, we are not out of the woods yet by any stretch, we’re brimming with ideas for wine tasting dinners , pairing the wine with specific Scottish ingredients, and even cooking with it!”
Commenting on his wine heading off to Scottish shores, Joaquim Lopes said, “’Every sip of Paxa wine is intended to evoke what is incomparable to any other place. Whenever this happens, it is when we keep our promise!”
“We hope Willie and Sandy’s customers very much enjoy our lovingly crafted wines!”
