One of the few good things about this bitter cold snap, is that your white wines can be chilled by popping the bottle on the doorstep for 20 minutes, leaving plenty of space in the fridge for the food you are going to need to eat to stay warm.

So, I have spent this morning nipping from front porch to kitchen with a range of wines that have been waiting to be tasted for a couple of weeks now.

For many, the nicest thing that I could say about them was that they were appropriately chilled and so it was with some cheer that I welcomed a trio of terrific Portuguese wines from The Wine Society.

The society (www.thewinesociety.com) is getting behind Portugal in a fairly big way and has put together a couple of competitively-priced mixed cases showcasing some of what the country has to offer. It is great because Portugal is a hotbed of exciting indigenous grape varieties that are thriving in the country’s excellent grape-growing climate, helped along by a wealth of winemaking talent.

At £75, the ‘Top to Toe’ 12-bottle case includes wines from Vinho Verde in the north to Alentejo in the South and there are some lovely wines included.

The white Quinta da Espiga 2009 (£6.50 if bought independently) is a fresh and surprisingly weighty wine made from grapes grown around Lisbon.

It is quite melon-like with well-defined green tropical fruits. I liked it and thought it would work well with a wintery fish pie.

I am a sucker for the invigoratingly citrus white wines that come from Vinho Verde and I have long loved the limey Quinta de Azevedo that’s also included in the case.

The red ‘Alandra’ (£5.95 on its own) is what you might hear referred to as a table wine. It comes without vintage or region of origin on the label but that should not put you off. There is a generous offering of well-balanced, ripe and juicy black fruits here and a soft, easy finish. The society describes it as ‘modest’, I prefer ‘friendly’!

The Quinta da Lagoalva 2009 (£6.50 on its own) is a slightly more serious affair — but no less amenable — from Ribatejo. It is a blend of Touriga Nacional and Castelão, which are both important red varieties in Portugal. The former is well-known for its elegance and perfume, whereas Castelão has that irresistible suppleness. In the end, it is a little more textured than the Alandra with hints of spice. Both the reds, if you are buying them separately, represent excellent value for money but I would give yourself a bit of a treat and take the case.

It is a great way to get to know Portuguese wines and a great excuse to get in from the cold.