Growing Region Lisboa | Portugal

In the southern DOC Carcavelos, long famous for its sweet wines, many vines had to make way for new buildings. In the DOC Colares, too, very little wine is grown today. In the subregion that begins at Cape Cascais beyond the spectacular surf beach of Guincho, winemakers press wines rich in acid and tannin from the red grape Ramisco. Hard to find in the rest of Portugal, it is planted deep in the sand dunes, protected by windbreaks, so it is still rootless. The Malvasia grape variety produces smooth, aromatic white wines. Just 25 kilometers north of Lisbon's center, lies the small, historic DOC Bucelas. Some of Portugal's finest white and sparkling wines are produced here. 

Bucelas wines are fresh, crisp, dry, mineral and strongly based on the Arinto. They taste great young, but can also gain complexity and finesse with two to three years of aging. A little further north of Bucelas, but still inland, is the small DOC Arruda - an area straight out of a storybook: historic castle ruins, Roman roads and windmills meet pretty vineyards where mainly red grapes are grown. Since 2002, international grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah or Chardonnay and other Portuguese varieties, for example Touriga Franca or Touriga Nacional, have also been permitted for Arruda wines (this also applies to the DOC Alenquer, DOC Torres Vedras and DOC Óbidos).

In the mild climate of the DOC Arruda, the grapes ripen in peace and produce excellent qualities, especially in the red wines. Again north of Arruda, the DOC Alenquer is located in the shelter of the mountain Serra de Montejunto. Here it is warmer, less windy and wet. The grapes can ripen well, producing concentrated reds and whites with fresh minerality. A number of top-motivated and quality-oriented winemakers are located here. In the DOC Torres Vedras, which is located on the Atlantic side of the Serra de Montejunto, it is much cooler and windier. Wines from this region are light and dry. Well known, for example, is the Vinho Leve, a dry white with low alcohol content. This DOC also produces some light, spicy red wines. Back inland, north of Alenquer is the DOC Óbidos with the enchanting, small town of Óbidos, known for its stately medieval city walls. A cool climate offers the best conditions for fresh wines. So it's no surprise that some of Portugal's best sparkling wines come from Óbidos. 

But also the white and red wines from the region are not to be despised. The neighboring region of Lourinhã is the DOC for Aguardentes, wine spirits. It extends northeast to the bustling fishing port of Peniche and Cap Carvoeiro. Further north where the Pinhal de Leiria pine forests meet golden surf beaches are the vineyards of Encostas de Aire, the largest DOC within the Lisboa wine region. Here, apple, pear and fig trees grow side by side with vines on slopes and hills. The terroir makes for good, rich red wines and modern whites. Of tourist interest is the pretty town of Leiria, the pilgrimage site of Fátima, and the monasteries in Batalha and Alcobaça, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Red and white wines produced here are light, fresh and low in alcohol.

White main grape varieties: Arinto, Fernão Pires, Malvasia, Seara-Nova, Vital

Red main grape varieties: Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Castelão, Tinta Miúda, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira.