Long overshadowed by Spain, the world’s largest viticulture country, Portugal has gained an excellent reputation as a producer of unfiltered wines in recent years.
With around 190,000 hectares of vineyards, Portugal has five times fewer grapes than Spain, but the small wine country stands out for its many local grape varieties and unique wine regions.
Vinho Verde
This viticulture region is located in the north of Portugal, right next to the sea. The proximity to the Atlantic brings a lot of rain, but predominantly sandy soil has very good drainage. White wines native to the wine region usually contain little residual sugar, mild carbon dioxide, little alcohol, and smell mainly of citrus and green fruit. The grape varieties most commonly used for white Vinho Verde are native Loureiro, Alvarinho, Arinto, Avesa and Treixadura.
on the bail
Adjacent to the south of the Vinho Verde wine region, Bairrada is known for its red wines made from the local Baga grape variety. Fresh, fruity red wines with high acidity and plenty of tannins that ripen late often smell of red cherries and plums. A small amount of Merlot is sometimes added to Baga to soften the high tannins. White wines from Bairrada are also very popular and the main local grape varieties are Fernão Pires, Bical, Arinto and Cercial.
dao
To the east of Bairrada is Dão, one of Portugal’s oldest viticulture regions. The characteristic red wines of the Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Mencia grape varieties are worth exploring. Especially compared to the slightly warmer Douro region, Dão red wines usually have a slightly thinner body and look fresher thanks to their crisp acidity. The best Dão white wines are made with the Encruzado grape variety and have a subtle floral note alongside aromas of lemon and peach.
douro
World famous for its fortified port wines, the Douro region has also proven itself over the last 20 years for character-packed white and red wines. In the case of red wines, grapes are sometimes crushed with their feet at the start of fermentation to ensure particularly gentle processing. Since the Douro is one of the warmest wine-producing regions in Portugal, red wines in particular are often richer than, for example, Dão or Bairrada.
Peninsula de Setúbal
Typical of this wine region south of Lisbon are dark red wines made from the local Castelão grape variety. The best specimens are pressed in the Palmela DOC area, have a full body and smell wonderfully fresh, red fruit. Fruity white wines made from the local grape varieties Fernão Pires, Arinto and Alvarinho are popular not only among tourists but also among Portuguese as they go great with grilled fish.
Alentejano
The Alentejano wine region in the southwest of the country produces about 40 percent of all Portuguese wines. Although white wines are also made, it is the red wines that come mostly from the Alentejo DOC, which are among the best in Portugal and are often aged in French oak barrels. In addition to Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz, the dark grape variety Syrah also feels extremely at home in the Mediterranean climate of Alentejano.