23/03/2024
Portugal is a paradise for wine lovers!
Travel with me through the wonderland of wine, where every sip is an adventure!
With 14 distinct wine regions, Portugal has a rich wine culture with wines for all tastes and styles.
1. Vinho Verde Region
It is located in Minho, the country's northwest region, where the famous Vinhos Verdes are produced and stand out for their unique character worldwide. These are fresh wines with medium to high acidity and are slightly effervescent.
Although the region produces red, rosé, and white wines, the latter are the most popular and are generally based on the Alvarinho, Loureiro, Arinto Avesso, Azal, and Trajadura grape varieties.
2. Douro Region
The Douro Valley is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. Initially famous for producing Port wine, nowadays it also produces magnificent still wines that are appreciated and awarded in the most demanding wine markets.
In this region, the dominant red varieties are
Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão, Tinta Amarela and Souzão, with Touriga Nacional being the Queen.
The most common white grape varieties in this region are the Viosinho, Rabigato Gouveio, and Arinto varieties.
3. Regiao do Região Távora-Varosa
The region's wines are characterized by elegance, balance, and delicacy, a reflection of the meticulous care given both in the management of the vineyards and in winemaking practices.
In red wines, the Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Jaen varieties predominate.
Among the white grape varieties grown in Távora-Varosa, Encruzado, Arinto, and Malvasia Fina. This region also produces quality sparkling wine.
4. Trás-os-Montes Region
The red wines from this region are made with the Tinta Barroca, Bastardo, and Tinta Amarela grape varieties, which gives them a robust and bold flavor. It is located northeast of the Douro and has a continental climate.
5. Dão Region
This region in the center of the country produces elegant and aromatic wines with varieties such as Alfrocheiro Aragonez, Jaen, Rufete, Baga, Touriga Nacional for reds and Bical, Encruzado, Mavasia-Fina, Syria, Fernão Pires and Rabo de Ovelha for whites. These grapes produce perfectly balanced red blends and refreshing white wines.
6. Bairrada Region
Influenced by the Atlantic breezes, Bairrada is known for its sparkling and still wines. The most used red varieties here are Baga, Castelão, and Bastardo, while Maria Gomes, Bical, and Cercial are the most popular white varieties. Baga is the most promising and prominent grape variety, famous for its robust character and aging potential.
7. Beira Interior Region
This region has high altitudes and granite soils and is home to some very fresh grape varieties. In red wines, you can grape varieties such as Bastardo, Marufo, Rufete, Tinta Roriz, and Touriga Nacional, and in white wines, Arinto, Fonte, Cal, Malvasia Fina, Rabo de Ovelha, and Syria. Interestingly enough, in this region, there are old vines everywhere.
8. Lisbon Region
Did you know that there are some top-notch wines produced near the capital? The region has different terroirs, which allow vineyards to be cultivated, for example, in sandy soils in the Sintra region, giving the wines unique characteristics. Here, there are the following varieties: Aragonez, Castelão, Tinta Miúda, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, and Trincadeira. These are used to produce red wines, while the white varieties Arinto, Fernão Pires, Malvasia, Seara-Nova, and Vital. The wines from this region are traditional and innovative, reflecting the region's maritime influence.
9. Tejo Region
This region is next to the Tagus (Tejo) River and has fertile soils and a warm climate - perfect for wine! There are some rich red wines here, including those made with the Aragonês, Castelão, Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Miúda and Souzão grape varieties. As to the white wine section, you will find the Fernão Pires, Arinto, Moscatel Graudo, and Alvarinho grape varieties, resulting in very aromatic wines.
10. Setúbal Peninsula Region
If you like fortified Moscatel wines and robust reds, this region is for you. Regarding reds, the Moscatel Roxo, Touriga Nacional, Castelão, and Aragonez varieties are usually the stars. As for white wines, Moscatel de Setúbal, Arinto, and Fernão Pires are the top varieties. The soils here are sandy, which once again gives the wines a distinct flavor and aroma.
11. Alentejo Region
Alentejo is the largest wine region in Portugal and has a vast extension of vineyards and lots of sunshine. Regarding the red wines, we have Alfrocheiro, Aragonez, and Castelão. Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira are the preferred varieties, producing wines with a high alcohol content. In white section wines, Antão Vaz, Arinto, and Roupeiro are the top stars and produce aromatic wines.
12. Algarve Region
It's true; Portugal is not just the beaches; it is also history and wines. The region benefits from a Mediterranean climate, which, combined with the winds and the soil characteristics, gives the wines a young profile, vibrant acidity, and slightly salty.
In red wines, the most popular varieties are Castelão and Negra Mole. Arinto and Syria in white varieties.
Sauvignon Blanc variety, in addition to the characteristic aroma of green peppers, makes it possible to feel the salinity of the region.
13. Azores Region*
This is a region that, unfortunately, was consigned to oblivion even by the winemaker Antonio Maçanita, the most famous in the world.
For me, white wines from this region and other areas with volcanic rocks are unique.
The Azores are an archipelago comprising
nine islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Here, I will only mention the islands' white grape varieties, emphasizing Terrantez from Pico, Arinto dos Açores, and Verdelho.
14. Madeira Region
This region hides my favorite fortified wine under lock and key, the wine that when I visit, the Archipelago forces me to carry a suitcase to bring bottles of wine, which never seems to be enough.
In Madeira, as in Douro, vineyards are cultivated on steep terraces. Once again, in this region, the highlight goes to the white grape varieties Sercial, Verdelho, Boal, and
Malvasia in reds, I have to highlight Tinta Negra.
Portugal's 14 wine regions offer a diversity of terroirs, grape varieties, and winemaking styles, showcasing the country's rich winemaking heritage. From the iconic Port wines of Douro to the crisp Vinho Verde of Minho, each region contributes to Portugal's reputation as a world-class wine-producing nation. Furthermore, Portugal has more than 250 indigenous grape varieties, highlighting its unique position on the global wine scene.
