One could talk endlessly about Portuguese wine culture, the diversity of grapes, flavors, and wonderful food. There are now over 200 grape varieties in the Portuguese wine palette.
With this article, we present a small introduction to the beautiful world of wines from Portugal, with an introduction to selected red and white grape varieties and the Portuguese climate that gives Portugal's wines their unforgettable taste.
Portugal's fine wine
When thinking of Portuguese wines, most people immediately think of port wine, arguably the most famous wine from Portugal. But port wine is just one of many fine wines produced in Portugal.
The island of Madeira is a charming Portuguese destination on the Atlantic coast and has a great, rich wine, the Madeira wine .
Historians claim that this is the wine with which the American delegates to the Continental Congress enjoyed toasting to celebrate the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
World-famous companions
Indeed, Portuguese wines have been a constant companion to great historical turning points, sipped by leading figures, but with much more discretion and humility than their French and Italian counterparts.
For example, a journalist asked the famous musician Jimi Hendrix whether he knew that in the photo with the Mateus bottle in his hand he was actually enjoying a Portuguese rosé.
British influences in Portugal
The Portuguese owe a lot to the British and their love of wine.
The Treaty of Methuen between Portugal and England, signed in 1703, allowed the Portuguese to purchase English textiles, and in return the British could purchase Portuguese wine at cheaper prices.
Thanks to the agreement and the associated increase in exports, northern Portugal, in particular, experienced an economic boom in port wine production, setting the milestone for the world's first demarcated wine-growing region, the Alto Douro, in 1756. This region has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.
The diversity of wines from Portugal
Now that we have established that Portugal has a well-deserved place in the world of wine, let's take a closer look at the different varieties of Portuguese wine.
Here we present some of the main grape varieties, along with their characteristics and climate preferences, used to produce the most popular Portuguese wines.
Red grape varieties of Portugal
Alfrocheiro:
This variety is mostly cultivated in Alentejo and is the most important grape variety in the Dão region. This grape adapts wonderfully to the country's climate and is enjoying increasing popularity in modern growing regions.
The Alfrocheiro grape has an intense red color, which makes it a popular blending partner in many wines. Single-varietal Alfrocheiros develop a rich bouquet of red fruits and wild floral notes. This grape variety is very balanced in terms of tannins, alcohol, and acidity.
Aragonez :
The Aragonez grape is grown in the Alentejo, Dão, and Douro regions. Aragonez is also called Tinta Roriz , Tinto de Santiago , or Tempranillo , the latter of which originates from Spain but is identical to Aragonez.
The grape enjoys considerable fame in Portugal as a key ingredient in the popular port wine. In recent years, it has also conquered the regions around the Tejo and Lisbon.
As with most grape varieties, their flavor depends heavily on the climate. In cooler climates, the aromas are dominated by currants, raspberries, and cherries, while warmer temperatures reveal notes of plums and spices.
The vines are extremely adaptable, but prefer dry climates and clay soils. Aragonez is often used as a cuvée companion for grape varieties such as Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Amarela.
Baga :
It is grown primarily in Bairrada, accounting for 90% of the total. However, this grape can also be found in other parts of Beira, such as Dão. The skin of the Baga grape is thick, which explains its high tannin content.
The Baga requires clay soils with plenty of sunlight. The grapes ripen quite late, so cool and humid periods are unfavorable.
When young, Baga wine is rather astringent (a tightening sensation in the mouth, often mistaken for a bitter sensation), but with age, the wine gains elegance and develops a tannic, acidic structure with aromas of berries and plums, as well as subtle notes of coffee, hay, and smoke.
When stored well, aromas of herbs, cedar and dried fruit develop.
Castelão:
A Portuguese grape variety of southern origin with very ancient roots dating back to 1531, Castelão is the oldest grape variety in Portugal. The grape is cultivated in regions such as the Tejo, Lisbon, Alentejo, and the Peninsula de Sétubal.
The vines prefer sandy soils and warm, dry climates. This is particularly true in the vineyards of the Palmela DOC on the Sétubal Peninsula, where the variety is known as Periquita.
The wines have high acidity, are rich in tannins, and exhibit aromas of red currants and dried plums with a fruity, spicy flavor. Growing on sandy soils gives the thick-skinned grapes their dark color and good stature, making them ideal for barrel aging.
The production of calcareous soils, on the other hand, favors the production of acidity. These wines should therefore be consumed young.
Baroque Ink:
This grape variety is grown in the Douro Valley and is one of the six main grape varieties permitted for the production of Port wine. The grape ripens early and produces a bountiful harvest. The vine dates back to the 19th century.
Tinta Barroca is typically used to make fortified wines. These are fruity, velvety, and full-bodied in flavor with notes of cherry, blackberry, and jam, as well as a higher alcohol content.
Tinto Cão (Tinto Ciao) :
This ancient Portuguese grape variety has been in the wine business since at least the 17th century. It is cultivated by only a few winemakers because it is not as productive as other grapes. However, its bold and spicy flavor is making it a comeback.
It is also one of the six most important grape varieties for port wine and is used in particular for the refined vintage port wines.
The acidity is relatively low and the taste is characterized by fruity-floral notes, red currant and smoothness.
Touriga Franca :
This grape is the most widely grown in the Douro Valley. It's no wonder, given its resistance to pests.
The grape variety is also one of the big six port wine grapes and is also an important component of red Douro blends (wine combination of red Portuguese grapes).
The wines based on Touriga Franca are elegant, with fine, firm tannins, fruit, and color. These tannins support the aging potential of the Portuguese blends. The aromas are reminiscent of cassis, black cherries, and blackberries.
National Tour:
This grape is one of Portugal's best grapes and rightly ranks high in the world rankings alongside world-famous grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.
It began in the north of the country, whether in the Dão or the Douro is unclear, but now it's everywhere. From the Algarve to the Tejo and even in the Bairrada region, it competes with Baga.
It owes its strong color and intense tannins to the thick skin, which results in promising aging potential.
This fine grape variety is a delight both in its pure state and as a cuvée or in small oak barrels.
Yellow Ink :
The grape is also called Trincadeira in Alentejo , while the name Tinta Amarela comes from Douro.
This grape variety produces high-quality wines with high acidity and active raspberry aromas, interspersed with herbal and floral notes and fresh pepper.
But growing this grape isn't all that easy. The large foliage must be constantly pruned to prevent the grape from losing flavor.
It is also susceptible to rot, which is why it thrives particularly in the warm climate of the Alentejo and Tejo regions. In fact, the grape is cultivated throughout Portugal.
White grape varieties of Portugal
Alvarinho:
This grape variety originates from northern Portugal and is one of the first grape varieties to be cultivated as a single variety. It grows along the Minho River in the Vinho Verde region and is considered the Riesling of the Iberian Peninsula.
The white wines from Alvarinho are very subtle, full-bodied, and robust, with a higher alcohol content. The vines are rather small and the grapes are pithy, making them very robust for the Atlantic climate.
These wines have high acidity and aromas of green apple, lemongrass, mint and alpine rose.
The grape variety is also very popular in Spain, especially in the Rías Baixas region where the wines have a fruity spiciness.
Arinto :
The grape is also called Pedernã or Arinto de Bucelas in Vinho Verde regions and is one of the oldest grape varieties in Portugal, first mentioned in writing in 1712. Judging by the name, this grape probably comes from Bucelas, which is located north of Lisbon.
The vines adapt to different climatic conditions and ripen late. The mostly light-colored grape is also known as "Arinto Roxo," a mutated berry that is purple in color.
The acidity is well preserved even in warm climates, with vibrant aromas of grapefruit, fresh apples, and citrus. Due to its high acidity, the grape is also often used to produce sparkling wines.
Fernão Pires :
An ancient grape variety native to northern Portugal. Written records date back to the 18th century, but it's probably even older. This grape is the most widely planted of all grape varieties in Portugal, particularly in the Tejo, Lisboa, and Bairrada regions.
The Fernão Pires sprouts and ripens very early, is sensitive to water and must be harvested at precisely the right time, as it loses its acidity towards the end of the ripening process.
Wines based on Farnão Pires lack freshness and oxidize quickly, so they should be drunk at a young age.
In terms of taste, the wines are very fruity with aromas of lemons, oranges, tangerines and flowers such as roses and linden blossoms, and at the same time very round and soft.
Encrusted :
An exclusive grape from the Dão region that produces one of the finest white wines. This production is of the highest quality, with good aging potential and a robust structure.
It's a fairly disease-resistant grape variety that produces good yields. However, cellar storage requires careful care, as it's prone to oxidation, which would compromise its aroma.
With proper treatment, aging in new wood with the Encruzado method is also a method that enhances the taste and structure.
The wines are delicately mineral with a straw-like color. The flavor is reminiscent of green peppers, violets, rose petals, resin, hazelnut, and lime.
Loureiro :
This grape is likely of ancient origin, originating from the Lima Valley on Portugal's northern coast. It is mostly cultivated in the Vinho Verde region. The name Loureiro refers to the intense aroma of bay berries and bay blossoms.
The aromas of this grape variety are so strong that it is often blended with the Treixadura and Arinto de Bucelas varieties to produce a fresher, lighter and fruity white wine: Vinho Verde .
The taste features aromas of peaches, oranges and green apples with prominent acidity.
Journey :
This grape is native to the Minho region of northern Portugal, but is also known in Galicia (northwestern Spain) under the name Treixadura . Its roots, however, are likely Portuguese, which later arrived in Spain.
The grapes have thin skins and medium-sized berries that ripen early. This variety belongs to the Cuvée Vinho Verde range, offering low acidity but plenty of fruit. The wines taste of fresh apples, pears, peaches, and apricots.
As a blending partner, Trajadura can be found together with Albari ño and Loureiro in Rías Baixas, but also in the Galician Ribeiro.
Fortified wines from Portugal
The typical feature of fortified wines is that alcohol is added before the fermentation process, which prevents the sugar from transforming into alcohol.
Due to the resulting high sugar and alcohol content, these wines retain their sweetness and have an intense flavor.
Port wine :
Port , which comes from Porto , is made from a variety of red and white grapes and has two different aging potentials: the Ruby type and the Dawny type.
The main grape varieties permitted for port wine are: Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Francesca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela and Tinto Cão.
Ruby:
Ruby stands for the English “ruby”, which it owes to its strong cherry red color, which results from the little oxidation and maturation.
Ruby is aged in a large tank, filtered, and bottled. The aroma is fruity, and Vintage Port is the highest-quality port wine aged in bottles.
Tawny :
Tawny types are also stored in tanks, but are then transferred to pipes to oxidize more quickly, which accelerates the aging process.
The flavor is reminiscent of dried fruits and nuts. The color can range from garnet red to golden.
Portuguese sparkling wine
Vinho espumante is the Portuguese term for sparkling wine. Portugal produces a range of white, red, and rosé sparkling wines throughout the country.
But the best can be found in the Alto Douro (around Lamego), Távora-Varosa, and Bairrada. Brut reflects the diversity of a good quality sparkling wine extremely well.
But how do you recognize the quality of Portuguese wines? Find out in this article about the different wine categories in Portugal .
Final words
Portuguese wine culture is brimming with treasures and fascinating stories. Follow our " Wines from Portugal" blog and be inspired.
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.
