Introduction to Portuguese Wine
Only in the last few years has the wine-drinking public realized there is more to Portuguese wines than Port and Madeira. This was primarily due to the ubiquitousness of cheap and easy-to-drink Portuguese wines, such as Lancers and Mateus Rosé, for the past half-century.
Fortunately for all of us, the excellent wines from this ancient winemaking country have been gaining more traction recently. This article covers all the major wine regions you should know.
Wine History
There has been evidence of wine production in Portugal since the Tartessians planted vines in the Sado and Tagus valleys around 2000 BC. Later, Phoenicians, Romans, and Celts contributed to expanding the vineyards into new areas and introducing new grape varieties and winemaking techniques.
Nowadays, wine production in Portugal is a dynamic activity that merges centuries of tradition with modern trends and practices. For this reason, Portugal still lacks the strength of other world-famous wine regions as a brand; Portuguese wines usually present colossal value for money.
Portuguese Wine Regions
The list below doesn’t pretend to be exhaustive, nor could it be, but it should give you a general idea of the main Portuguese wine regions and what to look for.
Minho
The land of “Vinho Verde,” where wine has been made since Roman times, is densely populated, with many small producers and parcels. It occupies the country’s northwest, almost entirely between the Douro and Minho rivers. Its hills and valleys see fresh summers and mild winters, with fairly well-distributed yearly rainfall. This climate yields high-quality white wines that are complex and fresh, with Alvarinho and Loureiro being the top varieties.
Douro
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Douro wine region is one of the world’s oldest appellations of origin, defined in 1756. Until well into the 20th century, it essentially produced fortified wine, Port, which is probably still the more internationally recognized Portuguese wine.
However, aside from a few exceptions, such as the mythical Barca Velha, in the 1990s, the Douro Valley started producing white and red table wines. Despite the enormous expansion in sales and, consequently, in the produced volume, the best wines invariably come from old vineyards, sometimes centennial, with many mixed grape varieties — the so-called field blend planted on terraces by the river.
Dão
This wine region is located in the north-central part of Portugal, surrounded by large mountain ranges that protect it from external climatic influences. The rugged terrain, alternating between smallholdings, woods, and rocks, results in various terroirs.
Consequently, wines tend to have a “transversal” characteristic and focus on subtleness and minerality. This is also the motherland of Touriga Nacional, considered by many the best Portuguese red grape variety, and Encruzado, a (white) local jewel. Nevertheless, despite its unique environment, beautiful landscapes, and considerable potential for producing great wines, it has remained far from the limelight.
Bairrada
A small appellation with an Atlantic climate, Bairrada sees most of its wine production come from co-ops, complemented by comparatively small producers. Being the birthplace of some of the very best Portuguese wines, Bairrada still divides opinions: on the one hand, some producers show resistance to the improvement of winemaking practices that is hard to understand; on the other, the nature of the incredible grape variety of the region, Baga, a robust cousin of Pinot Noir, makes many of the best wines very harsh when young, only showing their actual worth after many years.
Lisboa
Viticulture in the area surrounding the Portuguese capital is previous to the Roman occupation of the peninsula. However, the relatively flat and fertile soils and the temperate climate, with moderate, even rainfall, don’t mean terroir or growing conditions are uniform.
On the contrary, this is part of the country that has the most significant number of appellations: from the white wines of Bucelas, made with the Arinto grape in a fresh and green region of woods, to the unique, bone-dry wines which are created in the sands of Colares and can age for many decades, passing through the exciting fortified wines from Carcavelos, now almost extinct due to the solid urban growth registered in their place of origin.
Setúbal
This region can be divided into two completely distinct zones: a mountainous and luxuriant one, with an Atlantic-influenced climate on the slopes of the Arrábida mountains, and a flat, hot, dry area, with sandy soil and a markedly Mediterranean environment centered on the town of Palmela.
The most famous wine is Moscatel, one of Portugal’s three great generous wines, made from the variety that gives it its name: Moscatel is the Portuguese word for the Muscat grape variety. Like great Port and Madeira, the best Moscatel, vivid and floral in young, despite its somewhat low acidity, can evolve for over a hundred years, becoming a monster of concentration and complexity, providing truly unique experiences.
Regarding table wine, the classic red from this area is made with the Castelão grape. These wines are dry but reminiscent of molasses and chocolate, which is exciting.
Alentejo
Alentejo is a region of vast plains, typically hot and dry, in south-central and southern Portugal. In the first decades of the twentieth century, the government attempted to turn Alentejo into the “barn of Portugal” due to the climate and soil conditions favorable to the cultivation of cereals, along with the established agrarian structure based essentially on large estates.
As a result, wine production was essentially a local affair, relying on methods inherited from the Romans, such as fermentation in clay amphorae. However, the modernization of the area, not only in terms of infrastructure, like the Alqueva Dam, which created a 250 sq. km artificial lake, one of the largest in Western Europe but also humans replaced the unprofitable cereal with other types of culture, of which wine has been standing out.
Nowadays, among a few historical producers, there are many new wineries, many of which have consistently been presenting high-quality proposals. Trincadeira, Syrah, and Alicante Bouschet thrive here, yielding powerful, dark wines full of fruit, resembling some of the ripest specimens from the “new world.”
Madeira
Viticulture in Madeira dates back to the island’s colonization in the 15th century. While some good red, white, and rosé table wine is being produced there, the star is the fortified Madeira, with an alcohol content of around 20% and sweet medium-dry or dry.
Madeira is made with the Sercial, Boal, Malvasia, Verdelho, and almost extinct grape varieties. The addition of brandy interrupts fermentation, giving the wine a sweetness that balances its natural acidity. Before bottling, the wine is exposed to oxidative aging at high temperatures, resulting in its unique aromatic profile.
The Diversity of Portuguese Wines
In a nutshell, diversity is critical in Portuguese wine: the country counts on a panoply of wine regions that are different from each other, differences that are reflected in their wines, ancient vines, some of them pre-Phylloxera, and a vast diversity of grape varieties, some of them unique in the world — indeed, something that deserves to be better known!
Frequently Asked Questions About Portuguese Wines
What kind of wine is Portugal most famous for?
The most famous Portuguese wines are Port and Madeira. However, there are many other excellent wines to discover.
Are Portuguese wines any good?
Amazing wines are made across the country. However, the best Portuguese wine regions include Alentejo, Dão, and Douro. The red wines tend to be muscular, full-bodied, and incredibly delicious.
Does Portugal make wine?
Along with the world-famous dessert wine Port, Portuguese table wine is making inroads into the quality wine market.