Noted for
strong-tasting, distinct wines, Portugal exports its product around the world. As many as
18 grape varieties are used in its best-known wine, Port, first
popularized three centuries ago.
wineFACT While a number of countries around the world produce the sweet, fortified wine we know as Port, true Port is made only in Portugal's Douro region (and is labelled as Porto). Madeira, another fortified wine, has a well-established history and is produced on the nearby island bearing the same name. |
Among the major Portugese wine
regions are the Minho region,
known for very sharp reds and soft whites; the Douro region,
the country's best-known and one of the world's most productive
wine regions, known for Port and table wine; and the Dao region,
which produces the country's most famous and popular red wines,
known for their smoothness.
Portugal's vineyards are dominated
by native grape varieties that are little known outside the country. The
best of them are red. Some of the most notable red varieties are produced
from Touriga Nacional, Tinto Roriz, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and
Tinta Cao grapes.
The most popular Portugese white
wine is probably Vinho
Verde, made in the Minho region. Fresh, fruity, and often
lightly effervescent, its name (which literally means "green
wine") refers not to the beverage's color but to its
youth. It is a wine meant to be consumed soon after it is
made. A small percentage of Vinho Verde is red, but this wine
is not exported. It's worth a taste if you're visiting Portugal,
though -- its magenta color and acidic taste are cherished
by locals.
Most other Portugese wines fall
into the general category of Vinho Maduro, or wine meant to be aged in
the bottle. The label notations "Reserva" and "Garrafeira"
usually mean far better wine a slightly higher price.
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