With its entry into the European Union in 1986, Portugal began a transformation of its infrastructure and winery culture. Port and Madeira are deservedly renowned, but with the steady increase in quality of the country’s dry table wines, Portuguese wines are arguably the best value in the wine world. Portuguese wines are almost always a blend of grapes which are unique to Portugal and exceedingly difficult to pronounce, but as the wines are labeled by region, things are somewhat simplified. The Dão region is about 30 miles South of the Douro and surrounded on three sides by mountains, which gives it a Mediterranean climate. After entry into the European Union the local law requiring grape growers to sell their grapes to local cooperatives was rescinded and quality steadily increased. This is a surprisingly complex and full-bodied wine that has black currant, walnut skin and dried berry flavors. Faisão is Portuguese for pheasant.