Lisbon, the pearl of the Atlantic. Portugal's capital is surrounded by beautiful beaches and vineyards on the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula. There, it extends gradually over seven hills along the shore, giving the city its very special charm and earning it the nickname "City of the Seven Hills."
In its surroundings lies the wine region, known as Estremadura until 2009, which has developed over the past few centuries into one of Portugal's most important wine-growing areas. Today, it is known as Lisboa .
Diverse climate and geographical uniqueness
The Lisboa region is particularly characterized by its diverse climate zones and soil conditions. Inland, mountains and hills provide protection for the eastern part, while the coast is very windy, and the cultivated areas are often protected by bamboo groves.
The mild winter and relatively hot summer, which is however moderated by the cool wind from the Atlantic and thus rarely results in extreme temperatures, creates overall good conditions for wine growing.
Precisely because of this climatic diversity, Lisbon offers a wide selection of wines of varying quality. Excellent wines such as DOC and Vinho Regional are offered, as well as affordable table wines .
Quality over mass production
Today, high quality is paramount in Lisbon. However, just two decades ago, things were very different. With 60,000 hectares of vineyards at that time (today, 30,000 hectares), cultivation in this region alone accounted for a quarter of the country's total production.
Under the motto "Quantity over quality," producers were able to make a good living from large quantities of cheap bulk wine and earn decent incomes.
But in Portugal, too, consumer behavior has changed, and consumers have much higher expectations of wine taste. Many producers have had to adapt to ensure their survival in the industry.
Following the reconstruction of the vineyards, the region’s full quality potential is now being exploited.
The most radical change in this process concerned the area of grape varieties: many producers separated themselves from varieties that, although they produced high yields, did not meet the same quality standards as the varieties from which they produce high-quality wine today.
The introduction of the designation Vinho Regional Estremadura in 1993 played an enormous role in this. This gave winegrowers the opportunity to plant the most suitable grape varieties in their vineyards, thereby producing more individual wines and catering to every taste.
With this shift in production and the increased quality of the wine, many winemakers gained new self-confidence. They were finally able to expand internationally and are now able to quench the wine thirst of customers throughout Europe.
This means that wine from Lisboa is no longer overshadowed by wines from other regions, but is now mostly offered under the name Vinho Regional Estremadura or bears the name of a DOC region within the area.
The subregions of Lisbon
Lisbon has more subregions than any other wine-growing region in Portugal: nine in total. These nine DOC areas produce distinctive wines that make up a large part of the region's distinctive character and are therefore of enormous importance.
DOC Encostas de Aire
With its sub-regions of Alcobaça and Ourém , Encostas de Aire is the largest DOC region within the Lisboa wine region. The area is considered a supplier of mostly light, bright red wines and crisp, aromatic, and fruity white wines.
Due to its size, this area was the last to be affected by the process of change in the 20th century. But now the qualitative shift brought about by modernization is clearly noticeable here as well.
DOC Alenquer
This region is located approximately 50 km north of Lisbon and is one of Lisbon's most important wine-growing areas, especially in terms of quality. Both DOC wines and wines under the designation Vinho regional Estremadura are produced here.
The vineyards of the area are protected from the wind by the limestone hills of the Serra Montejunto, making them an excellent location for cultivation.
DOC Arruda
Nestled in a dreamy landscape, surrounded by hills and old windmills, the small DOC Arruda is located right near the capital. This region is primarily known for its red wine production.
DOC Bucelas
This small DOC area was officially established in 1911, north of Lisbon around the municipality of Bucelas. The region south of Arruda has a strong reputation for its cool-fermented white wines.
The warm sub-Mediterranean coastal climate ensures high acidity in the wines grown here. The region's winemakers experiment with various vinification techniques and traditional sparkling wines.
DOC Carcavelos
The now-small DOC region is located on the southern tip of Lisbon and is known exclusively for red and white fortified wines. The winemaking tradition there dates back to the 18th century. In the 19th century, the wines from Carcavelos even enjoyed worldwide renown.
DOC Colares
The DOC Colares stretches along the Atlantic coast in the southwest. The vines grow behind sand dunes, protected from strong sea winds.
The deep-colored wines, made from ungrafted Ramisco vines, are among the oldest in Portugal.
DOC Torres Vedras
The region around the town of Torres Vedras lies on the Atlantic side of the Serra de Montejunto, where a cool, windy climate prevails.
The region is known for its mostly light and dry white wines. Light and spicy red wines are also produced on a smaller scale.
DOC Óbidos
This DOC is located in the charming town of Óbidos . The cool air here provides the perfect conditions for fresh wines. It's no surprise, then, that some of Portugal's best sparkling wines come from this region, although white and red wines are also widely available here.
DOC Lourinhã
The neighboring region of Lourinhã is the DOC for Aguardentes , or brandy. This is the only Portuguese appellation focused exclusively on brandy.
The grapes of Lisboa
The white grape variety
Portugal boasts a variety of indigenous grape varieties . The following presents the grapes that are increasingly cultivated in the Lisboa wine region.
Arinto – strong and lively
Arinto is a versatile grape that is grown in most regions of Portugal.
Arinto produces powerful and lively wines whose aromas surprise with a refreshing acidity, often with a mineral quality and light apple, lime and lemon flavors.
Fernão Pires – aromatic
Fernão Pires is one of the most widely planted grape varieties in Portugal. This grape grows more or less everywhere in the country.
It is very aromatic and combines flavors of lime, lemon, rose, mandarin, and orange. These wines are best enjoyed young.
Malvasia – sweet
The wines of the Malvasia grape are often characterized by a discreet and delicate aroma and a long-lasting finish and can be combined with a wide variety of dishes.
White Malvasia wines are characterized by their straw-yellow color and a floral-fruity aroma. They are dry, soft, fresh, and pleasantly mineral.
Seara Nova – light and neutral
Seara Nova wines are rather light and neutral in aroma, with a medium body and hints of citrus and apple. Their alcohol content is often relatively high.
Vital – neutral
The wines made from the Vital grape are usually high in alcohol and should be drunk young.
They are easily accessible, have little complexity and are neutral in taste.
The red grapes of Lisboa
Alicante Bouschet – velvety and round
Thanks to its deep red flesh, this grape produces a very dark red wine, characterized mainly by the taste of dark cherry, plum, blackberry, blueberry and dried spices.
Aragonez – fruity
The Aragonez grape variety produces dark, fruity and characterful wines that delight with notes of cherries, currants and raspberries.
Castelão – rustic
Castelão is grown in the south of the country and thrives in a hot and dry climate. Wines made from the Castelão grape are acidic and contain aromas of red currant, dried plum, and occasionally a hint of well-aged game. This gives them their typical rustic character.
Tinta Miúda – fruity and spicy
A relatively rare, noble variety that produces powerful and full-bodied wines with low yields and a floral aroma, particularly characterized by red berries and lemongrass.
Touriga Franca – delicately spicy
This grape is now cultivated throughout northern Portugal. It produces intensely colored, dense, and elegant red wines characterized by blackberry and floral aromas.
Touriga Nacional – intense, floral and fruity
Many wine connoisseurs agree: Touriga Nacional is one of Portugal's finest grapes and ranks high in the world rankings. Although the grape variety originates in the north, it is widespread throughout the country.
The Touriga has a thick skin and is characterized by its deep color. Its bouquet is very intense, both floral and fruity, with notes of black currants, raspberries, herbs, and licorice.
Trincadeira – fruity and spicy
The fruity and characteristically fleshy wines of this grape variety produce a very specific silkiness and fruit intensity. The bouquet is dominated by notes of blackberries, wild berries, cinnamon, and cloves.
Want to learn more about Portuguese wine-growing regions? Check out our Wines from Portugal blog .
About the author
Inara Muradova is an SEO expert and corporate blogger. In addition to technical search engine optimization and SEO consulting, she actively supports companies with the conception and writing of professional blog posts.
