Wines from Portugal

Ideally located in the far south-west of Europe, Portugal is a country whose commercial ports open up to the world. The Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean influences offer a great diversity of climates and terroirs. There are 27 DOC (Denominação de Origem Controlada), 4 IPR (Indicação de Proveniência Regulamentada), VR (Vinho Regional) and table wines (Vinho de mesa).

But Portugal is above all the extraordinary guardian of a wide variety of grape varieties, an exceptional ampelographic heritage! The main grape varieties are: Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, Castelão, Touriga Franca for red wines; Fernão Pires, Siria, Arinto for white wines.

The country is known worldwide for its production of Porto, it is a mutated wine (whose alcoholic fermentation was stopped during the process) only in the Haut Douro region. In addition to being one of the first appellations of controlled origin in history (created in 1756 thanks to the Marquis of Pombal), the famous Porto has made a name for itself in the world thanks to this technique of mutage, which optimizes the conservation of wine during transport. Depending on its quality, the Port begins a more or less long aging, either in barrels or in bottles to be qualified as: Ruby, Tawny or Vintage.

Trade is developing, particularly with England and allows the growth of the Portuguese vineyard. It breaks down into 14 wine regions: Vinho Verde, Trás-os-Montes, Tavora-Varosa, Douro Valley, Dão, Beira Interior, Beira Atlântico, Lisbon, Tejo, Alentejo, Setúbal, Algarve, Madeira, Azores.

Here are 5 appellations from Portugal that we recommend: Vinho Verde, Madeira, Obidos, Douro, Dão.