Portugal is an insider tip among wine lovers. Wine has been grown here since ancient times and as
the oldest wine-growing region in the world, the “Alto Douro” is even a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. The growing area is located east of Porto on the river Douro of the same name.
Slate soils store a lot of moisture here and thus supply the vines during the dry and hot summers.
The grapes are processed into port wine and heavy, tannin-rich red wines. Lighter wines, such as
the Vinho Verde, are cultivated by the Portuguese winemakers in the cooler Atlantic climate of the
north.
Winegrowers are true masters of blending
Portuguese red wines are unique. Domestic grape varieties that you won't find anywhere else in
the world and the way they are processed as cuvées make them something very special. All
Portuguese wines have always been blended from a combination of up to twenty varieties.
Portuguese winegrowers are true masters in the art of blending. Under their experienced hands,
unique and distinctive cuvées are created that promise new, exciting wine experiences.
Domestic, indigenous grape varieties are the essential basis for Portuguese red wines.
Internationally known grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are only grown on a
small scale. But they are almost always just the "salt and pepper" to round off local wines.
So-called monocasta wines, i.e. single-variety wines that consist of one grape variety, have
become increasingly important in recent times. Wines made from single varieties usually show an
intense bouquet of red fruits such as cherries and strawberries, and wildflower aroma is also one of
their special characteristics. Pure red grape varieties are powerful, dense and with fine fruity and
spicy accents. Here you can enjoy the peculiarities of each individual grape variety.
Color-intensive wines with complex aromas
The finest Portuguese grape variety is Touriga Nacional. The vine, originally from the north of
Portugal, delights with its complex aromas and flavors of violets, liquorice, black currants and
raspberries. It creates dense, color-intensive wines with a slightly fine-bitter note of bergamot.
The most commonly grown variety Touriga Franca in the Duoro Valley is also often used to make
cuvées. It stands for great color intensity, for firm, rich and aromatic wines with a slightly floral note
and blackberry aroma. It is also one of the five grapes officially recommended for port wine.
Sandy, hot soils for fruity wines
The Castelão grape is common throughout Portugal, but feels most comfortable in the hot climates
and on dry sandy soils. It is therefore particularly popular in southern Portugal, such as on the
Setúbal peninsula south of Lisbon or in the DOC Palmela, where it is called Periquita. In its youth,
the Castelão vine stood for fruity, concentrated wines with notes of raspberries and red currants.
With age, a smoother aroma develops with hints of cedar and tobacco.
Fine, elegant red wines
The Aragonez vine, known in the north of Portugal as Tinta Roriz and cultivated in the Alentejo
Aragonez wine-growing region, stands for a fine, elegant red wine. The top grape variety with the
three names, firm tannins and the aroma of red fruits is processed into varietal Douro wines and
port wines. However, it is also found in cuvées together with other grape varieties such as
Trincadeira.
Everywhere in Portugal, but especially in dry, warm areas and especially in the Alentejo, the
Trincadeira vine grows, which is also called Tinta Amarela in the Douro region. It is characterised by
a very fresh acidity and also by a raspberry aroma with spicy, pepper and herbal notes.
Huge storage capacity
Heavy, single-variety red wines from the Baga grape are mainly produced in the centre of Portugal.
In the city of Agueda, in the Região Centro, in its main growing area in the Bairrada region, the
Baga grape, as a late-ripening variety, finds just the right climate for dry, very rich red wines with high
tannin content and great storage potential. An intense aroma of blackberries, cherries and plums
and the distinctive acidity distinguish this variety, which is also popular for sparkling wines.
Terraced vineyards
But the grapes are also found in the traditional wine-growing area in the mountainous Beira region
in the north of Portugal, which borders on the Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain range in
Portugal. Many vineyards are terraced and as early as the 12th century the first Portuguese king is
said to have ordered the planting of vines there. Due to mountains in the west, Dão is shielded from
Atlantic influences. Rainy winters, hot and dry summers and the long cool autumn provide optimal
conditions for the production of elegant wines. The red wines, whose vines grow on granite soil in
the high altitudes, are known for their very strong, dry character, which comes into its own through
longer storage.