Wines of PORTUGAL
| Portugal, most popularly known here in the states for its Port wine, is now a region local wine experts are keeping an eye on. In fact, Portugal is home to some 230 indigenous grape varieties and has, of late, been producing and exporting some excellent table wines, coming particularly in the North of the country. While recent times have seen new plantings of international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, the vast majority of Portuguese wines continue to be blends based on indigenous grapes. There is an eclectic mix of grape varieties grown here, among the most popularly planted red grapes are Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (a.k.a. Tempranillo), and Periquita. The white varieties of consequence are Alvarinho (aka Spain’s Albariño) and Trajadura. Muscat and Malvasia are growing in popularity as well. While recent technology allowed them to update equipment and improve quality, Portuguese winemakers held tenaciously to age-old techniques, so that they continued to offer something decidedly different to the wine-drinking public. Therefore, you can find a wide range of styles from brooding Old World, earthy styles to fuller, fruitier New World options. |
Northern Portugal |
||||||||||
Vinho Verde/ Douro/ Dao |
||||||||||
| Vinho Verde literally translated as “green wine” gets its name from the fact that it’s young and fresh, usually made to be consumed within a year of release. Slightly effervescent with high acidity; having a bracing, cleansing effect on the palate. Blended with Alvarinho, Assario Branco and/or Vical, they often have lemony and herbal notes. The Douro is best known for Port, a firm red wine fortified with brandy spirit, always sweet, though with a high alcohol content. Most is red, although some white Ports are worth seeking out. However, in recent years, the Douro has solidly established itself as a table wine contender. More than 90 grapes are permitted for use, with the most popular ones being Touriga Franca, Touriga National and Tinta Roriz. Red wines from the North are generally dense, rustic, and well-balanced, offering a nice alternative to the modern, fruit-driven styles. Wines from the Douro tend to be a bit fuller and fleshier than their Dão counterparts, which are generally lighter and higher in acidity. The majority of wine from the Dão is red, made from up to 9 authorized grapes, though Touriga Nacional must account for at least 20% of any one wine. Tinta Roriz plays a large part in many of the blends. Rabigato, Gouveio and Viosinho are the more popular indigenous whites of the area. |
||||||||||
| Key Red Grape Varieties | Most commonly found as… | Key White Grape Varieties | Most commonly found as… | |||||||
| Touriga Nacional Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) Touriga Franca |
Douro
Dão Touriga Nacional |
Alvarinho Trajadura Rabigato Bical Verdelho Viosinho |
Douro
Vinho Verde Bical Verdelho |
|||||||
Southern Portugal |
|||||||
Alentejo |
|||||||
| In complete contrast to the North, this is a sparsely populated region where grain farms stretch as far as the eye can see. However, over the last 20 years, the Alentejo region has emerged as an important winemaking area – and more recently, Cooperatives and single estates have worked hard to modernize both its vineyards and its wineries. Luckily, these wines are still relatively unknown globally, so their value to quality ratio is quite appealing. The wines of Alentejo are some of the ripest in Portugal, so expect a fruit-forward, plush red here. The weather can be quite hot and dry, and the climate is sometimes compared to Australia’s. Translation: this wine needs meat. The principal red grapes here are Trincadeira, Moreto and Castelao Frances, which exceeds the whites in production, but not in flavor. There is much potential in the Antao Vas, Roupeiro and Perrum. |
|||||||
| Key Red Grape Varieties | Most commonly found as… | Key White Grape Varieties | Most commonly found as… | ||||
| Trincadeira Moreto Castelao Frances Aragones Alicante |
Alentajo
Alicante Aragones |
Roupeiro Verdelho Antao Vas Arinto Perrum |
Verdelho
Arinto |
||||
Madeira |
|||||||
| The island of Madeira is a small outpost of Portugal off the West coast of Africa, which produces a fortified wine based on the Sercial, Verdelho, Bual and Malmsey grapes. It is made in a similar style to Port, with the addition of some added grape spirit. Another additional feature is that the wine is heated, for about six months. This practice is fabled to stem from how the wine improved when it was transported on long sea journeys through hot climates in the 17th century. Heating the wine, together with exposure to oxygen, oxidizes and stabilizes it. |
|||||||
| Key Red Grape Varieties | Most commonly labeled as… | Key White Grape Varieties | Most commonly labeled as… | ||||
| Tinta Negra Mole | Tinta Negra Mole | Sercial Verdelho Bual Malmsy |
Madeira | ||||
