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WINES OF PORTUGAL
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reds with cherry and damson fruit, aging to complex flavors of herbs, malt, cedar and dried
fruit. Compare to Nebbiolo and Xinomavro.
Castelão
| Kas-Tell-O(n) |
— The most planted red grape of the southern part of Portugal,
Castelão produces medium-bodied concentrated, aromatic (raspberry and gooseberry)
wines with food-friendly acidity that have good aging potential. Compare to Barbera and
Cabernet Franc.
Tinta Barroca
| Teen-Ta Bah-Roh-Ka |
— The most productive and easiest to grow of the Port
varieties in the Douro, Tinta Barroca has a thin, dark skin that softens the Port blend while
imparting color, perfume, and a lengthened finish. This variety is also used to make fruit-
forward and earthy non-fortified wines. If grown in cooler climates or at higher elevations, it
can be elegant and aromatic, full of black cherries, black plums, and purple flowers. Compare
to Grenache.
Touriga Franca
| Too-Ree-Gah Fran-Ka |
— One of the top Douro grapes and the region’s
most widely planted variety, Touriga Franca creates rich, aromatic wines known for their black-
cherry character and velvety tannins. Compare to Malbec or softer styles of Primitivo.
Touriga Nacional
| Too-Ree-Gah Nass-Ee-Oh-Nal |
— Touriga Nacional is widely grown across
Portugal, from the hottest parts of the Douro down to the Algarve. It creates dark, rich wines
with strong tannins and blackberry and violet aromas. Compare to Cabernet Sauvignon.
Trincadeira
| Treen-Ka-Day-Rah |
— Best suited to the Alentejo and Ribatejo regions, this
grape produces wine that is rich in color with vibrant acidity and moderate alcohol. Trincadeira
boasts lush raspberry fruit tempered by subtle nuances of flowers and spice with wonderful
complexity fit for aging. Compare to Carignan, Grenache and Dolcetto.