Douro Grape Varietals
The Douro is the region in all over the world with more grape varietals used in the production of still wine and Port, over one hundred grape varietals, all authorized by the Port Wine Institute.Nowadays, the tendency for the recent plantations is mainly focused on five red grape varietals (Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Tinto Cão and Tinta Roriz) and five white grape varietals (Malvasia Fina, Gouveio, Viosinho, Códega and Malvasia Rei), both used for the vinification of Port and still wine.
There are 29 grape varietals "recommended" in the legislation, these 29 grape varietals are divided in two groups, the first one must be used on at least 60% of the wine (blend of diferent grape varietals) the grapes in the second group must be used at a maximum of 40%.
Finally a third group whose grape varietals can be added to the previous groups, "authorized" grape varietals... a few dozens, that all combined may easily reach to one hundred.
The characteristics of the main red grape varietals used:
Touriga Nacional
In the past, it was an avoided grape varietal because of the low yield and very fragile regarding to vines diseases.
Currently it only represents 2,5% of the planting area, but it is the unique one being used for the single grape varietal still wines, due to its complexity and elegance, plums, cassis and violets aromas. Sweet and extremely concentrated tannins, great ageing ability, therefore it is a mandatory grape to be used in the Vintage blends.
Touriga Franca
It is the most planted in the Upper Douro region, because of the resistence to diferent weather conditions, this grape varietal leads to vigorous wines, with black fruits notes and floral hints, like roses, it has a good age ability. It is common to establish an association with its good development during the year and a good Vintage declaration.
Tinta Roriz
Also known as Aragonêz in the Alentejo and Tempranillo in Spain, this grape varietal is characterized by high quality and yield. It offers a mixture of black fruits jelly and spices, high alcohol content.
Tinta Barroca
Dated from the seventeen century, good yield, medium intensity, silky tannins, sweet and fruity aromas of cherries and plums and high alcohol content. It is normaly the first grape varietal being harvested, acquiring sooner than all the others the maturation peak. It is planted in the Lower and Upper Corgo regions, once that in warmer areas, like the Upper Douro, it will certainly dehydrate.
Tinto Cão
Traditionally it originates lighter wines, low intensity on color, with elegant aromas, red fruits, spices and floral profile, although for aged wines this grape varietal reveals to be quite important showing a huge resistence to oxidation.
Tinta Amarela
Easily found in the Baixo Corgo, it is very dificult to be planted due to its fragility to resist to vines diseases, it offers great color and aromas, lots of fruity aromas with vegetable hints and a good age ability. This grape varietal is highly planted and seen in Alentejo, where it is known as Trincadeira or Trincadeira Negra. In other portuguese wine regions it maybe be named as Espadeiro, Crato Preto, Mortágua, Murteira or Rabo de Ovelha Tinto.
The characteristics of the main white grape varietals used:
Normally the white grape varietals are planted in cooler and higher areas.
Malvasia Fina
This grape varietal produces very refined wines, fruity and full-bodied. It is cultivated in a few portuguese wine regions, like Madeira. It is almost a mandatory grape varietal when it takes to the production of White Port and Douro wines.
Finally a third group whose grape varietals can be added to the previous groups, "authorized" grape varietals... a few dozens, that all combined may easily reach to one hundred.
The characteristics of the main red grape varietals used:
Touriga Nacional
In the past, it was an avoided grape varietal because of the low yield and very fragile regarding to vines diseases.
Currently it only represents 2,5% of the planting area, but it is the unique one being used for the single grape varietal still wines, due to its complexity and elegance, plums, cassis and violets aromas. Sweet and extremely concentrated tannins, great ageing ability, therefore it is a mandatory grape to be used in the Vintage blends.
Touriga Franca
It is the most planted in the Upper Douro region, because of the resistence to diferent weather conditions, this grape varietal leads to vigorous wines, with black fruits notes and floral hints, like roses, it has a good age ability. It is common to establish an association with its good development during the year and a good Vintage declaration.
Tinta Roriz
Also known as Aragonêz in the Alentejo and Tempranillo in Spain, this grape varietal is characterized by high quality and yield. It offers a mixture of black fruits jelly and spices, high alcohol content.
Tinta Barroca
Dated from the seventeen century, good yield, medium intensity, silky tannins, sweet and fruity aromas of cherries and plums and high alcohol content. It is normaly the first grape varietal being harvested, acquiring sooner than all the others the maturation peak. It is planted in the Lower and Upper Corgo regions, once that in warmer areas, like the Upper Douro, it will certainly dehydrate.
Tinto Cão
Traditionally it originates lighter wines, low intensity on color, with elegant aromas, red fruits, spices and floral profile, although for aged wines this grape varietal reveals to be quite important showing a huge resistence to oxidation.
Tinta Amarela
Easily found in the Baixo Corgo, it is very dificult to be planted due to its fragility to resist to vines diseases, it offers great color and aromas, lots of fruity aromas with vegetable hints and a good age ability. This grape varietal is highly planted and seen in Alentejo, where it is known as Trincadeira or Trincadeira Negra. In other portuguese wine regions it maybe be named as Espadeiro, Crato Preto, Mortágua, Murteira or Rabo de Ovelha Tinto.
The characteristics of the main white grape varietals used:
Normally the white grape varietals are planted in cooler and higher areas.
Malvasia Fina
This grape varietal produces very refined wines, fruity and full-bodied. It is cultivated in a few portuguese wine regions, like Madeira. It is almost a mandatory grape varietal when it takes to the production of White Port and Douro wines.
Gouveio
It is cultivated in a few portuguese wine regions, like Madeira, where it is called as Verdelho. It produces aromatic wines (apple aromas), smooth texture, good acidity and concentration of sugar, it is commonly combined with Malvasia Fina for the White Ports blend.
Viosinho
It is a grape varietal with low produtivity, but lot of quality, it offers structure and aromatic intensity, it is commonly combined with Malvasia Fina for the White Ports blend.
Códega
A very old portuguese grape varietal, nowadays it is the white grape varietal that is more planted in the Douro valley, highly productive, it originates wines with high alcohol and low acidity.
Malvasia Rei
Highly productive white grape varietal, although it results on wines with a lack of richness and complexity, it is usually used combined with other white grape varietals.
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