There is no denying that some wine producing countries have got it easier than others when it comes to making their presence felt in the UK.

The English-speaking nations such as US, Australia and New Zealand have a head start, while Bordeaux, Rioja and Chianti have hundreds of years of selling experience.

Other regions are so heavily focused on the big names of the grape world - think merlot, sauvignon blanc and shiraz - that they almost sell themselves.

It's perhaps not surprising then that a country such as Portugal - Port aside - hasn't yet made a huge impression over here with its still wines. It's home to some of the world's most unpronounceable grape varieties and the language is pretty unique too.

Portugal may not yet be a big exporter and the public my not be aware of its wines, but I truly believe that their future is bright.

I say this because a tasting of over a hundred of their wines last week wasn't just encouraging, it was exciting.

To spend a day sampling and understanding grape varieties that I rarely see was a revelation. At the same time I began to build a clearer impression of what it is that the different regions have to offer.

To know why it is that I'm so upbeat about these wines you have to go out and try them. To help get you started, here's a 60-second guide to key grapes and regions.

Portugal has a plethora of indigenous grape varieties but I suggest you familiarise yourself with just six. The first three are white.

Alvarinho is a great place to start because it's exactly the same grape as you find over the border in North-West Spain, where it is known as Albariño. Increasingly fashionable, it delivers some hugely inviting white orchard fruit flavours that are combined with a crisp backbone that keeps the wine in focus and your attention on the glass in hand.

Arinto is my hopeful tip for the future. Every wine I tried was refreshing and vibrant with lovely definition of fruit.

Fernão Pires is as appealing to the taste buds as the rather romantic sounding name suggests. The wines are softer than those made from the previous two grapes, with an emphasis on all things aromatic.

Red grapes are more widely planted in Portugal than whites and they have to be respected for the phenomenally high quality they are capable of delivering.

Aragonês is also known locally as Tinta Roriz (and Tempranillo in Spain). The Portuguese wines are full of rich, red fruits and with good tannins.

Castelão is, to me, the Grenache of Portugal. The wines are invariably ripe, soft and generous with pretty punchy levels of alcohol.

Touriga Nacional is to Portugal what Cabernet Sauvignon is to Bordeaux. It's a powerhouse of a grape with opulent black fruits and incredible richness. It's one of the must haves and is invariably a key player in the top-notch wines of the Duoro.

When it comes to knowing what's where in Portugal, there are three regions I have chosen. Working from north to south, you have got Vinho Verde, Duoro and Dão.

I'm in love with the spritzy, sharp, generally low-alcohol wines that emerge triumphant from the often soggy conditions of the Vinho Verde. They are unique and distinctive and some of the very best come from around the town of Monçã where they are made entirely from Alvarinho.

The vineyards planted on the hair-raisingly steep terraces of the Duoro valley are among the most beautiful I have ever seen and the wines are just as impressive. This is a place where red wines (and port) reign supreme and where some of the country's longest-lived wines are made.

Almost one hundred grape varieties are grown here but it is Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz (Aragonês) that shine. Don't be surprised though that many of the wines from here are blends.

The wines of the Dão are, for me, the most fragrant of the reds. The vineyards are planted on sandy soils that play their part in delicious, fruity wines. It is, for me, one of the most exciting regions of all.

The Portuguese wine story doesn't end there but it's a start and I hope you can be inspired to give these wines a shot. To do so you don't need to go very far. This week's offer from The Oxford Times Wine Club is Portugal all the way.

Click here for The Oxford Times Wine Club offers.