PORTUGUESE red wine

Portugal is known for more than just its stunning buildings, beautiful landscapes and tasty custard tarts (pastéis de nata). The country is famous for vibrant red wines and has a wine history dating back to Roman times.

Portuguese red wines come in various styles, from light and fruity to rich and dark. Portugal is also home to Port, a sweet fortified wine perfect for celebrating or enjoying after a meal.

Portugal is home to a number of native grape varieties that are used to create delicious red wines, including:

Alicante Bouschet: Known for their deep, dark skin, Alicante Bouschet grapes are grown in Portugal’s Alentejo region. This variety produces full-bodied wines with a rich colour, offering flavours of dark berries and spice. Often used in blends, this variety adds depth and structure.

Castelão: Predominantly grown in the Setúbal Peninsula and Alentejo regions. Castelão produces medium-bodied wines with firm tannins and flavours of red fruits and herbs. It’s a versatile variety that is suitable for ageing and often used in blends.

Touriga Franca: Used in both Port and table wines, dark Touriga Franca grapes are mainly grown in the Duoro Valley. They offer floral aromas and flavours of red fruits and provide blends with structure and elegance.

Touriga Nacional: Also from the Douro Valley, Touriga Nacional is Portugal’s flagship red grape. It creates wines with intense colour and concentrated, heady blackberry, violet and spice flavours. This variety is known for its excellent ageing potential.

Trincadeira: This is a thin-skinned grape variety found in Alentejo. It produces aromatic wines with high acidity and juicy flavours of plum and raspberry. It’s sensitive to climate, offering a distinctive spiciness and freshness and is often used in blends to enhance aroma.

Red wines are made throughout Portugal. Some of the best-known wine regions include:

Alentejo: Located in southern Portugal, Alentejo has a warm, dry climate perfect for creating bold red wines. Known for growing grapes like Alicante Bouschet and Trincadeira, the region produces rich reds with ripe fruit flavours and smooth, easy-drinking tannins.

Bairrada: Situated near the Atlantic coast, Bairrada is famous for Baga wines. These are tannic and age-worthy, showcasing red berry and earthy notes.

Dão: Dão in central Portugal is surrounded by mountains, creating a temperate climate with hot summers and cold winters. The region is known for its elegant, balanced reds made from Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz.

Douro Valley: The Douro Valley in northern Portugal is known for its terraced vineyards and hot, dry climate. It is famous for Port and table wines. Winemakers here use Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca to create robust, complex wines.

Lisboa: With a climate influenced by the ocean, Lisboa produces various wines from Castelão and Aragonez grapes, known for their bright acidity and fruit-forward profiles.

Setúbal Peninsula: Located just south of Lisbon, Setúbal Peninsula’s wine production benefits from a Mediterranean climate. Known predominantly for Castelão grapes, the region produces reds with rich fruit flavours and a distinct herbal note, which are best enjoyed young.

Here are a few must-try Portuguese reds to add to your wine list:

Barca Velha: From the Douro Valley, this iconic red blend is made from Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz grapes. It is known for its dark, complex flavours of blackberry, plum and spice, full-bodied texture, firm tannins and balanced acidity.

Dão Reds: Made in the Dão region, these wines often combine Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz. They are particularly popular thanks to their elegant, floral aromas and red fruit flavours. Medium-bodied with smooth tannins and refreshing acidity, they’re balanced and easy-drinking.

Periquita: Periquita is made primarily from Castelão in the Setúbal Peninsula. It features bright red fruit flavours with hints of spice and herbs. This wine has a medium body with lively acidity and a smooth, approachable texture.

Port: Crafted in the Douro Valley, Port is a fortified wine made from Touriga Nacional and Tinta Barroca grapes. Richly sweet and dark, with notes of chocolate, dark fruits and nuts, it’s a full-bodied, luscious treat.

Vinho Verde Tinto: Although primarily known for its white wines, the Vinho Verde region also produces unique reds from Vinhão grapes. These wines are light-bodied with a high acidity, offering fresh, fruity flavours and a slight fizz.

Pair your Portuguese wine with the right foods and enhance the flavours of your meal.

Barca Velha’s rich complexity pairs beautifully with Portuguese roast lamb or beef stew. Its robust structure complements hearty flavours. If you’ve opted for one of the elegant Dão Reds, the floral and fruit notes can pair very well with roast meats and mushroom dishes.

For something lighter and brighter, try a fruity and versatile Periquita paired with foods that have rich but not overpowering flavours. Try a glass with poultry dishes and medium-aged cheeses.

A light, refreshing Vinho Verde Tinto can complement dishes with a little heat, such as spicy sausages or chilli peppers, which the wine’s acidity and freshness can balance.

At the end of the evening, a glass of Port is a must-serve with a cheeseboard featuring blue cheese or a rich chocolate dessert.