Portuguese wine

Nestled along the western edge of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal creates an exciting range of red, white and fortified wines using largely native grape varieties.

One of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world, Portugal's winemaking history dates back to ancient times. Early interactions with the Phoenicians, Romans and Moors influenced its wine production techniques and flavours. Portugal’s most famous wine, Port, gained prominence in Europe mainly due to historical trade routes with England.

Portugal delivers a remarkable diversity of grape varieties, with over 250 native grapes that aren’t found elsewhere. It resisted wide replanting with popular global grapes and is definitely reaping the rewards with its flavour-packed, top-value wines.

From the terraced vineyards of Douro, famed for its Ports, to the green plains of Vinho Verde, known for its effervescent whites, the country’s varying landscapes and climate create an ideal environment for growing its huge number of grape varieties, resulting in wines with distinct characteristics, and all worth exploring.

Some of the most important Portuguese grape varieties include:

• Touriga Nacional: Portugal’s pride and joy grape, it’s one of the principal grapes grown in the Douro Valley for port wines and also stars in many customer-favourite reds.
• Alicante Bouschet: A red grape with red flesh producing intense deeply coloured wines.
• Castelão: A dark-skinned red grape used in various wines, including still red, rosé, and sparkling.
• Alvarinho: Better known as Albariño when made in Spain, this white wine grape produces highly aromatic wines that sings with flavour.

Portugal has 14 wine regions, each with its own microclimate and winemaking traditions. Key Portuguese wine regions include:

• Douro Valley: The Douro Valley is famous for its Port wine. Bordering the Douro River in northern Portugal, this UNESCO World Heritage site is known for its steep terraced vineyards, growing both red and white grapes. The region's famous fortified wine Port comes in a range of styles from rich Vintage Ports to aged Tawny Ports, with flavours of dried fruits, spices and nuts. It’s also home to the native red Touriga Nacional and white Rabigato grapes.
• Alentejo: Alentejo is the heartland of Portugal’s red wine production. Its rich, full-bodied red wines result from the region’s vast plains and Mediterranean climate. The region is also gaining recognition for its aromatic, elegant white wines.
• Dão: This central region is celebrated for its elegant, age-worthy red wines made from Touriga Nacional grapes. It also makes vibrant, deep whites from native Encruzado grapes.
• Vinho Verde: This region in the northwest of the country gives its name (which means green wine in Portuguese) to the aromatic, slightly fizzy white wines created here. The cool and wet climate allows grapes such as Alvarinho and Loureiro to thrive.
• Bairrada: This coastal region is known for its rich, age-worthy red wines made from the native Baga grape and elegant, complex sparkling wines – espumantes.
• Lisboa: Also known as Estremadura, Lisboa is home to 30 grape varieties, from the crisp Arinto to the robust Tinta Roriz – also known as Tempranillo. This large, coastal wine region has a maritime climate, which helps it create fruity and aromatic wines.

• Tinta Roriz/Tempranillo: Tinta Roriz is a versatile grape used in both blends and single-varietal wines. Widely planted throughout Portugal, Tinta Roriz wines are medium-to-full-bodied and smooth, with flavours of cherry, plum and blackberry, plus hints of leather, tobacco and spices. Even when young, these wines can be enjoyed alongside hearty dishes such as roast lamb and Beef Wellington.
• Touriga Nacional: Considered a national treasure, this aromatic wine variety is a vital component of Port, as well as robust red wines. With flavours of black fruits, spice and violet, this bold wine is equally elegant and lush, and pairs with rich, fatty foods such as sirloin steak.
• Touriga Franca: This wine is found in the Douro and Dão regions. While less prestigious than Touriga Nacional, it offers more rounded tannins, with hints of sweet spice and a fruity, aromatic style.
• Tinta Barroca: Much like Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca is also a key variety in the making of Port wines. The third most-planted grape in the Douro region, this wine has flavours of dark cherry and warming hints of pepper and spice. This makes it a food-friendly wine, pairing perfectly with game meats and roasted mushrooms.
• Alfrocheiro: With its thick skin and vibrant colour, Alfrocheiro grapes makes wines with deep red hues and intense flavours of cherries, blackberries and plums, plus subtle hints of spice. It is often blended with lighter varieties to add a deeper colour.

• Vinho Verde: A refreshing wine from the northwest that’s perfectly paired with the summertime and lightly fried seafood. Vinhos Verdes are known for their tart acidity, light bubbles and vibrant grapefruit, gooseberry, white melon and lime blossom flavours.
• Alvarinho: Known for its lively acidity and flavours of lemon zest and grapefruit with a touch of salinity, Alvarinho (also known as Albariño in Spain) can be enjoyed with dishes featuring white fish, white meats and soft cheeses such as burrata and salty feta.
• Verdelho: An approachable, easy-drinking white, Verdhelo wines balance spicier foods with its zesty aromas and vibrant flavours of citrus and ginger. It’s also one of the key varieties used to make Madeira fortified wines.
• Antão Vaz: From the Alentejo region, this grape makes wines with sweet, juicy flavours such as pineapple, honey and citrus – the result of the grape adapting well to warmer climates.
• Encruzado: One of Portugal’s more famous white grape varieties, Encruzado is grown in the granite hills of Dão and known for its mellow flavours of stone fruit, woody herbs and pine. This versatile, smooth wine pairs exceptionally well with risottos featuring green vegetables and white fish.

• Port: Made exclusively in the Douro Valley, Port wine has a diverse range of flavours and sweetness, meaning there’s a Port for every taste. Port wine styles range from the rich, full-bodied Vintage Port to the sweet, nut-and-caramel Tawny Port.
• Madeira: A unique ageing process gives Madeira its distinct flavours of roasted nuts, orange peel and caramel. Under the European Union protected designation of origin, fortified wines labelled as Madeira can only be made on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
• Moscatel de Setúbal: A rich, sweet wine with intense aromas of orange blossom, honey and dried fruits from the Setúbal Peninsula. Its luscious, citrus character comes from being made mainly with the Moscatel de Setúbal grape variety. Moscatel de Setúba makes an excellent dessert wine paired with blue cheeses or simply enjoyed alone.