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Wine regions in Portugal

Portugal produces some of the world's finest, oldest, unique and highest value-added wines. The country has a large variety of native breeds - about 285 - producing a very wide variety of different wines with distinctive personality.

Two of Portugals wine producing regions are protected by UNESCO as World Heritage - Douro Valley Wine Region, and Pico Island Wine Region in the Azores.

Read more about the classification of Portuguese wine here.
Read more about wine in Portugal here.

WINE IN PORTUGAL - REGION BY REGION

Wine from Norte region in Portugal
Wine from Centro region in Portugal
Wine from Lisbon region in Portugal
Wine from Ribatejo region in Portugal
Wine from Alentejo region in Portugal
Wine from Algarve region in Portugal
Wine from the islands of Madeira, Portugal
Wine from the islands of Azores, Portugal

WINE FROM NORTE REGION IN PORTUGAL

Vinho Verde - Green Wine
(- wine from the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga and Porto)

Vinho Verde is produced from grapes which do not reach great doses of sugar. Therefore, Vinho Verde does not require an aging process. The name Vinho Verde literally means Green Wine, referring to its youthful freshness rather than its color.

These wines are produced in the Northwest of Portugal in the historical regions of Minho and Douro Litoral. Vinho Verde is influenced by the nearby ocean and high humidity.

Vinho Verde wines are very light, naturally gassy wines, and requires low temperatures before serving. Alcohol is 8 to 11,5 %. The most popular variety are the white wines, but there are also red and more rarely rosé wines.

Vinho Verde wines are now largely exported, and are the most exported Portuguese wines after the Port Wine.


Port Wine
(- wine from the districts of Vila Real and Bragança, and also part of the district of Viseu in region Centro)

The Port Wine vines need to grow on soil that is rich in schist and require a specific climate. Using a unique vinification method, this wine is very special and known worldwide.

The red varieties are the most common. Port Wine is produced in the beautiful landscape of the Douro Valley in Alto Douro region - a region that is now classified as World Heritage by UNESCO.

The Port Wine is exported from the city of Porto (or more precisely from a city just across the river - Vila Nova de Gaia), thus acquiring the name porto (port in English).

There are several varieties of Port Wine: some of the most popular are the tawny, white, ruby, and Late Bottled Vintage (L.B.V.).


Douro wine - Vinho do Douro
(- wine from the districts of Vila Real and Bragança, and also part of the district of Viseu in region Centro)

Douro wine is from the same region as Port Wines. It appears by the first time in the registries of exports in 1679. Today's Douro wines are favourite table wines with some traits that are reminiscent of a Port Wine.

BarcaVelha is a widely notable wine, which is seen as one of the best wines of the world - and, perhaps, the best Portuguese wine!

WINE FROM CENTRO REGION IN PORTUGAL

Dão wine - Vinho do Dão
(- wine from the district of Viseu)

Dão wine is from the Região Demarcada do Dão, a region demarcated in 1908, but already in 1390 there were taken some measures to protect this wine.

The Dão Wine is produced in a mountainous region with temperate climate, in the area of the Mondego and Dão Rivers in the north region of central Portugal. These mountains protect the castas from maritime and continental influences.

The Dão wines - both red and white - have fruitful flavour. Some of the used castas, such as the Touriga Nacional, are unique to the country and do not exist anywhere else.

Minimum alcohol by volume is 11%. Many vintners consider these wines to be the best Portuguese table wines, the most notable are the "Grão Vasco" and the "Aliança".


Bairrada Wine - Vinho da Bairrada
(- wine from the districts of Coimbra, Aveiro, Leiria, Viseu, Castelo Branco and Guarda)

Barraida Wine is produced in the Região Demarcada da Bairrada. The name Bairrada is from barros (clay) and due to the clayey soils of the region.

Although the region was classified in 1979, it is an ancient vineyard region. The vines grow exposed to the sun, favouring the further maturity of the grapes. The Baga casta is intensely used in the wines of the region.

The Bairrada region produces table, white and red wines. Yet, it is notable for its sparkling natural wine. Conde de Cantanhede and Marquês de Marialva are the official brands for this wine.

WINE FROM LISBON REGION IN PORTUGAL

Colares sand wine
(- wine from the district of Lisbon)

Colares is a type of wine produced in sandy soils outside Lisbon - between the foothills of Sintra and Roca Cape.

Because of Lisbon's urban sprawl, the lands available for vineyards became so small, that the demands has always been higher than the production - making it one of the most expensive Portuguese wines.

The Colares sand wine tastes has a soft blend of nuts and red fruits. Preferred temperature for consumption is 18 degrees Celsius for red wines and 12 for white wines.


Moscatel wines
(- wine from the district of Setúbal)

Moscatel is a liqueurous wine from the Peninsula of Setúbal. A region that has produced wines since the dawn of nationality.

Since 1870, most of the Setúbal Moscatels have been grown with special care. And the most known is Moscatel Roxo - a wine that only becomes commercialized after aging 20 years in a cellar. Moscatel Roxo is made upon a casta with the same name as the wine.

WINE FROM RIBATEJO REGION IN PORTUGAL

(- wine from the districts of Santarém)

Ribatejo is the most central of Portugal's traditional regions, crossed by the river Tejo, dominating the landscape. Ribatejo has been a producer of wine for 2000 years.

The wines from this region, white and red, are smooth and silky and has a full body of flavour. They are slowly coming of age - after 5 years they become full-bodied and fruity - and establish themselves as high quality wines, with a slight spicy flavour.

To balance old Ribatejo grapes and to give the wines from this region a fresh European flavour, both Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc grapes have been introduced - establishing this wines at the level of the best table wines of Europe.

In 2000 the Ribatejo obtain the best wine certification in Portugal - DOC.

WINE FROM ALENTEJO REGION IN PORTUGAL

Alentejo wines
(- wine from the districts of Évora, Portalegre and Beja)

Located in southern Portugal, Alentejo is ideal for the production of high quality wines suitable for the occasional consumer - which makes it one of the most popular Portuguese wines.

Alentejo produces white wines with an intense original nose which are fruity. The red wines are slightly acidic with a bouquet of very ripe fruits yet soft and balanced on the palate.

Alentejo wines are, with Vinho Verde, the preferred wine for the Portuguese consumer, as they represent 47% of the quality wine market's quota with only 12% of the national wine production.

This preference is also reflected in the export market, as Alentejo wines are also sold in China - a nation without a wine-drinking tradition.

WINE FROM ALGARVE REGION IN PORTUGAL

Algarve wines
(- wine from the district of Faro)

Algarve is a wine region covering the same areas as its namesake region. The region is classified as a Vinho Regional (VR). Very little of the wine from this region is exported, since the region's wine industry is driven by the local tourist economy.

Within the Algarve region there are 4 major wine regions. Lagos DOC, Portimao DOC, Lagoa DOC and Tavira DOC. The principle grapes of the Algarve region includes Arinto, Baga, Periquita, Tinta Amarela and Ugni blanc to mention some of them.

WINE FROM THE ISLANDS OF MADEIRA, PORTUGAL

Madeira wines

Madeira wine is made in the Madeira Islands. The wine is produced in a variety of styles ranging from dry wines which can be consumed on their own as an aperitif, to sweet wines more usually consumed with dessert.

The islands of Madeira have a long winemaking history dating back to the Age of Exploration when Madeira was a standard port of call.

Madeira is a very robust wine that can be quite long lived even after being opened, due to its unique winemaking process. There are four major types of Madeira, named according to the grape variety used. Ranging from the sweetest to the driest style they are: Malvasia, Bual, Verdelho and Sercial.

Tinta Negra Mole is a red grape wine and one of the workhorse variety on the island - found in various concentrations in many blends and vintage wines. Modern madeiras which do not carry a varietal label are generally made from Tinta Negra Mole.

WINE FROM THE ISLANDS OF AZORES, PORTUGAL

Wine from the Azores

The nine major Azorean Islands and the eight small Formigas extend for more than 600 km. Winemaking has a long tradition on the Islands. The Wine Harvest Festival - Festa das Vindimas - takes place during the first week of September, and is a century old custom ways by the people of Pico.

Pico is a wine region located on Pico Island. Another wine region is Biscoitos, located on the Terceira Island. Both regions have IPR classification and may some day be promoted to DOC. The production of the regions are primarily fortified wines.

The principle grapes of both wine regions include Arinto, Terrantez and Verdelho.

Graciosa is a region centered around the Island of Graciosa. Also this region has the IPR classification, and may be promoted to DOC some day. The region is known for its light bodied table wines.

The principle grapes of the Graciosa region include Arinto, Fernao Pires, Terrantez and Verdelho.




Read more about the classification of Portuguese wine here.
Read more about wine in Portugal here.