Get to know: Portuguese Wine

Portugal is a country with a long and rich history of winemaking, dating back to the Roman times. Its diverse climate and geography, as well as its wealth of indigenous grape varieties, give rise to a wide range of wines with distinctive character and quality.

Key Regions in Portuguese wine

Douro is the home of fortified port wine, but also of full-flavoured Portuguese red wine and fresh whites made from grapes such as Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, and Rabigato. The region is famous for its steep terraced vineyards along the Douro river valley. You can read about our team trip to the Douro here on our blog.

Minho, located in the northwest of the country is famous for producing the best known Portuguese white wine: vinho verde, or green wine, which is a light, refreshing and ever-so-slightly fizzy wine made from young Alvarinho, Arinto, Avesso, Loureiro and Trajadura grapes among others

In the south  you'll find Alentejo, a hot and dry region in the south, producing rich and fruity reds and whites from grapes such as Aragonez, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet, Antão Vaz, and Arinto. The region is also known for its cork production.

The Dão is a mountainous region in the north-central part of the country, producing elegant and complex reds and whites from grapes such as Alfrocheiro, Jaen, Encruzado, and Bical. The region is influenced by the Atlantic ocean and the Serra da Estrela mountain range.

Lisboa is a coastal region near the capital city of Lisbon, producing a variety of wines from grapes such as Fernão Pires, Arinto, Castelão, and Tinta Miúda.

Finally Madeira An island in the Atlantic ocean, producing a unique style of fortified wine from grapes such as Sercial, Verdelho, Boal, and Malvasia. The wine is aged in barrels under heat and oxidation, resulting in a complex and long-lasting wine with nutty and caramelized flavors.