Wine from Portugal | Wine Growing Countries

Portuguese wines are fresh and elegant

Long forgotten is the time when Portuguese wines stood in the second row on the wine shelf. Portugal's winemakers have not only gained ground, they have also developed enormously over the past two decades. Portugal is now often referred to as the „New World of the Old World“ because the winemakers combine the best of both worlds. A new quality consciousness and modern technology paired with traditional methods have virtually revolutionised Portuguese viticulture. A new generation of dynamic and sometimes very young winemakers with state-of-the-art training and new ideas has taken the helm.

Portuguese wine stands for surprising freshness and elegance

The new wine producers are aware of the evolved identity of Portuguese wine and the traditional winemaking methods and focus on fruit, strong body, distinctive taste and excellent quality. In Europe, the country in the first west of the continent is now known not only for its classic Port wine and Madeira. Today, Portugal is also known for its exceptional white wines, red wines, sparkling wines and rosés. Portuguese wines üconvince with üsurprising freshness, but also elegance. And they are a pleasure that every wine lover can afford.

Millennia of winemaking tradition

A wine-growing tradition that goes back thousands of years - that is what many wine-growing regions claim, but in Portugal it is actually the case. Portuguese viticulture can be traced far back in time. Even in mythology, it is said that Lusus, the consort of the wine god Bacchus (Dionysus in Greek), was the inspiration for the name of the Roman province of Lusitania, which is relatively identical to today's Portugal. The name of the mythological figure indicates that wine growing was already known at that time. Apart from mythology, the old European truth also applies: where Phoenicians, Greeks or Romans settled, there was also viticulture. It was regarded as a civilisational duty. It is also known that in the Tejo and Douro regions, as well as in southern Portugal, wine was already highly valued in pre-Christian times.

Professional viticulture in Portugal in the 12th century

It is certain that Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans brought the first vines and thus viticulture to Portugal. From the 12th century onwards, it was mainly monasteries that influenced wine production. The Cistercian Order alone built 18 monasteries in Portugal, bringing with it its accumulated wine knowledge and dedicating itself to wine production in the long term. King Dom Dinis (King Dionysius), the sixth King of Portugal, was also a friend of agriculture and viticulture, which earned him the name of the Peasant King. He managed to establish agriculture so well that he was able to build up a merchant fleet with the proceeds from it. It is the prosperity of this era that lays the foundation for Portugal's great successes as a maritime and trading power under the famous Henry the Navigator (1394–1460).

Flouring wine trade with Great Britain

Other fixed points in the Portuguese winemaking tradition are the Battle of Aljubarrota/ Alcobaça in 1385 and the Treaty of Windsor. After these historical events, a flourishing wine trade with Great Britain began. The fact that English wine merchants discovered Portuguese red wine as an alternative to French wine was also due to the high tariffs that William III imposed on red wine from France.

Madeira wines became an export hit

Henry the Navigator had a great influence on the history of Portuguese viticulture. He rediscovered the island of Madeira and had Muscat and Malvasia grapes planted there. This laid the foundation for the world-famous dessert wines from Madeira. Port wine also became an export hit at that time. It is also significant for the importance of winegrowing in Portugal that in 1756 the winegrowing area for port wine was limited by law to the Alto Douro and Douro regions. Such a law was unique in the world at that time. The destruction of the wine-growing areas by mildew and phylloxera initially set wine production back once again, before numerous winegrowers' cooperatives were founded in Portugal in 1930, which still play an important role in Portugal's wine landscape today. The opening of Portugal to the EU also contributed to the renaissance of Portuguese viticulture.

Portuguese red wine from the interior

Wine growing in Portugal today is characterised by contrasts: In the interior, heavy, tannin-rich red wines and port are grown, while in the cool Atlantic climate of the north, such as the Vinho Verde, more light wines are produced. The vineyard area is the seventh largest in the world with almost 240,000 hectares. Portugal produces about 7 million hectolitres of wine per year, placing it just behind Germany as the 11th largest wine producing country in the world.

26 Portuguese wine-growing regions and local specialities

Today Portugal is divided into five wine-growing zones with over 40 quality wine-growing areas. Twenty-six of them have the highest, the so-called DOC status (Denominação de Origem Controlada), which corresponds to the Spanish DO or  the French AOC system. The special thing about Portual's wines, however, is that they are mainly made from indigenous, so-called autochthonous grape varieties.With Colares, there is also an extremely rare wine in Portugal, which is still grown with European vines that have their roots in the sand north of Sintra in Colares near the Atlantic coast. The phylloxera, which destroyed almost all other European vines in the 19th century, could not survive in the sand.

Domestic grape varieties and true-to-the-root rarities

There are around 500 autochthonous grape varieties, so-called castas, in Portugal. These are grape varieties that only thrive here. This diversity is due to the variety of climatic, geological and topographical conditions in Portugal. And this diversity, which can sometimes also be found in a vineyard, accounts for the enormous strength of Portuguese viticulture.341 varieties are actually permitted for wine production. The most important red wine varieties are Alfrocheiro, Tinta Roriz, Baga, Touriga Francesca, Aragonez/Tinta Roriz, Castelão, Alicante Bouschet, Trincadeira, Verdelho and Touriga Nacional. The most important white wine varieties are Alvarinho, Arinto, Encruzado and Maria Gomes. In addition, Portuguese winemakers also use French grape varieties, which help to meet international wine tastes.

Portuguese for wine lovers

Portuguese red wine is basically divided into the following classes:

Garrafeira:long matured, high quality wine
Quinta: vineyard, estate
Vinho Branco: white wine
Vinho Maduro: matured wine
Vinho Regional: Wine of a specific wine region, equivalent to IGP
Vinho Tinto Red wine
Vinho Verde:Young white, red and rosé wine

Douro - First official appellation of Europe

The wine country Portugal is divided into different wine regions. The Marquês de Pombal is considered to be the inventor of the first official wine region (appellation) in Europe. In 1756, he had the borders of the Douro wine-growing region precisely marked out and officially marked with boundary stones. This was to guarantee the quality of the fortified wines from there. And indeed: Port and Madeira from the Douro are so well received in England that they are displacing still wines.
The wine-growing region on the Douro is today one of the best known internationally, especially for its excellent red wines. It was at the end of the 1970s that wineries such as Ferreira and Niepoort ventured into the world of high-quality red wines.
Today, the steep slopes of the Douro are home to old and traditional vineyards. There, the „Gemischter Satz“ is cultivated, for example, the grape varieties Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional and Castelão. They are traditionally cultivated, harvested and processed together. The Cuvée is virtually born in the field„and that is what makes the red wines from the Douro so versatile. In order to develop further, Portuguese winegrowers also cultivate indigenous grape varieties as single varietals and produce, for example, a lean, rather mineral white wine.

Portugal's different wine regions

In the northwest of the country is the wine region of Rios do Minho. Located between the Minho and Douro rivers, it is best known for its Vinho Verde. basically stands for young wine and not for a wine region. The white Vinho Verde has a terrific freshness, a slight tingling and only slightly sweet. That is why it is often called a summer wine. White Vinho Verde is usually made from several grape varieties: Arinto, Alvarinho, Azal or Loureiro grapes. Occasionally, there are also red and pink Vinhos Verdes.

Wines from the Trasmontano region are full-bodied and aromatic

The Transmontano wine region lies shielded behind mountains on the Atlantic coast. It is hot and dry, and the flat granite makes viticulture difficult. The climate favours grapes for rather strong and aromatic wines. Well-known grape varieties of the region are the red Bastardo, Trincadeira Preta, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional. The white varieties are Malvasia Fina/Assario Branco, Fernão Pires and Godelho.

Terras de Cister – stronghold of sparkling wine

Situated south of the Douro is the small wine region of Terras de Cister. This is where the Cistercians first cultivated wine. The region is characterised by its very own climate with very cool nights. The grapes therefore ripen later, but then stand for elegant and complex red and white wines. Their pronounced acidity also makes them excellent base wines for sparkling wines. Terras de Cister is one of the best sparkling wines in the country. Because sparkling wines have always been popular in the region, winegrowers planted French grape varieties such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir more than 100 years ago. The white varieties Malvasia Fina, Godelho and Cerceral are also grown here, as well as red varieties such as Tempranillo/Aragonez, Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca.

Wines from the Dão are an insider tip

The Dão wine region is surrounded by mountain ranges in the middle of Portugal. Because of its location, it is shielded from the influence of the Atlantic and also from the continental climate, it has its very own microclimate. The summers are dry and warm, the winters very cold. Already in late summer, it cools down considerably in the nights, which allows the grapes to ripen later on granite and slate soils at altitudes between 400 and 500 metres.
The Dão produces elegant red wines with structure and complex aromas. The aromatically fine white wines are mainly made from the grape varieties Encruzado, Vercial and Malvasia. The red wines are made from Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro and Aragones grapes. Wines from the Jaen variety, known in Spain as Mencía, from the Dão are considered an insider tip because of their elegance and complexity.

Beira Interior – a region rich in grape varieties

Südöstlich of the Dão, on the border with Spain, lies Beira Interior, a completely remote wine-growing region. Here, on the highest mountains, there is sometimes snow in winter. Due to the colder climate, the season is shorter, which is reflected in the red wines as crisp fruit and also ensures crisp tannins. These wines need a longer maturing period, but then convince with a slender body and fine minerality. These are true treasures that are produced here in the Dão. The region is rich in its own grape varieties and in yeasts that have been used for centuries. Murufo, Bastardo, Alfrocheiro, Trincadeira and Touriga Nacional are the predominant red grape varieties, while Siria, Arinto and Malvasia dominate the white varieties.

Beira Atlântico: Home of the Baga

In the small wine region Beira Atlântico international critics see the future hotspot of wine growing. Here, pure-grape red wines are made from the Baga grape. The classic Baga is a dense, tannin-rich wine with a lot of acidity, which turns into an elegant, very structured red wine reminiscent of a Pinot Noir after an ageing period of 10 to 20 years. The good säure structure of the Baga also benefits the rose sparkling wines that come from here.

Lisboa – wine diversity in the smallest space

Situated to the south of Beira Atlântico is the wine region of Lisboa. The narrow strip of land of the wine-growing region extends to the gates of the Portuguese capital Lisbon. The wine region is very diverse. At Colares there is still one vineyard with European vines that have survived the phylloxera in the sandy hillsides. Their grapes are used to make wines with an insider's tip factor. The region is also known for sparkling and white wines made from the white Arinto grape variety. Their trademark is a particularly fresh, mineral and dry body, which makes the wine a great companion to food. But Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca also have their home here. In the meantime, however, well-known grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah or the French varieties Alenquer, Torres Vedras and Óbidos can also be found in the Lisboa growing region. In the areas facing the Atlantic, vines grow that produce light wines with low alcohol content, so-called Vinho Leve, and red wines with less fruit but more spice. The areas, which lack the wind of the Atlantic but have a cool climate, offer the best conditions for aromatic white wines from Fernão Pires.  Light and fresh red wines are also produced here.

Special cuvées from the Tejo region

The Tejo wine region winds inland along the river of the same name. In the valley, the soil is sandy, while in the higher areas there is clay, limestone or slate. This is where new vineyards are created. In addition to the indigenous grape varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay can also be found in the wine region. The red and white Cuvée, in which autochthonous and French grape varieties are combined, are considered an insider tip.

Alentejo – Wines with full fruit

Underneath the Tejo River stretches the Alentejo region, which is characterised by wheat fields, olive groves and sunflower fields. Cork oaks also grow there, making the Alentejo the leading cork region to this day. The entire region is on the move. Private wineries and winegrowers' cooperatives have invested in cellar technology and new vineyards. The red wines from the Alentejo are mainly cuvées made from the indigenous grape varieties Aragones, Alicante Bouschet, Castelão and Trincadeira. They are characterised by a full body and lots of fruit and by a balanced acidity. The white wines are made from Arinto, Fernão Pires and Antão Vaz grapes. Whether white or red - drinking pleasure at an excellent price-pleasure ratio is guaranteed.

Fine liqueur wines from Setúbal

Situated just south of Lisbon is the wine region of Peninsula de Setúbal. From there comes the liqueur wine Moscatel, which is internationally known. These wines have a large sweetness and an alcohol content of at least 18 percent by volume. They must be matured in barrels for at least 18 months. For the red wines from the Setúbal region, the Castelão grape variety is used above all; to be more precise, at least 67 percent of this grape variety must be found in the cuvée. The remaining 33 percent come from autochthonous grape varieties such as Aragones and Trincadeira or Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon. The sandy soils produce wines with a fruity character and ripe tannins that become more complex with age.

Fresh white wines from the Algarve

The Algarve, the coastal region on the Atlantic Ocean in the very south of Portugal, is home to the four wine-growing regions of Lagoa, Lagos, Portimão and Tavira. Due to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, the nights are cool and the soil rather dry from the wind. The region has its own unique grape variety called „Negra Mole“. It was the most planted variety in the 20th century and the new generation of producers and oenologists have rediscovered it as one of the oldest grape varieties in the country. Other national and international grape varieties also grow in the Algarve, from which red wine, rosé and white wine are produced. The region is particularly known for its fresh, light and fruity white wine.

Special wines from the island of Madeira and the Azores

In the Atlantic on the flower island of Madeira and on the Azores and the island of Pico, special wines are produced. Madeira, which is famous all over the world, is considered one of the best liqueur wines of its kind. White wines from the island of Pico, which belongs to the Azores, are perhaps not yet so well known, but are an insider tip. In vineyards surrounded by stone walls, the Godelho grape variety is cultivated with enormous effort. It is a wonder of aromas and captivates with notes of white fruits, stone and smoke, which are due to the volcanic soil of the island. The Atlantic weather brings a slight saltiness to the wine.