Wines of Portugal

The Portuguese are a sea-faring nation - and accordingly, some of their most famous wines have been moulded by the tastes and demands of their export markets. That is the case with both Madeira and port, two of the greatest fortified wines in the world.

Portugal’s table wines, though, are far more inward looking. The influence of the sea has been limited to moderating the climate of the vineyards on the Atlantic coast, so that the western stretch of the river Douro produces light, acidic Vinho Verdes. The climate here is cool and wet; only further upriver does it become hot and dry enough to grow grapes for port.

Most of the northern two-thirds of the country gets sufficient rain for the vine’s needs; the most southerly third is hotter and drier, and only sparsely planted with vines. This is the mouth of the river Douro (with the city of Oporto in the background), from where port is shipped to the rest of the world. The boats, barcos rabelos in Portuguese, were traditionally used for shipping the wine down from the vineyards further up the river. Now they have been replaced by road tankers.

Portuguese Grape Varieties

There are many indigenous Portuguese grapes. Reds include the Touriga Nacional, Tinto Cão and others used in making port and Douro table wines - Baga in Bairrada, Periquita in the south and dwindling quantities of the fine Ramisco in Colares. Tinta Negra Mole still accounts for about half of the plantings on Madeira.
Of the whites, Arinto is grown almost everywhere, while Alvarinho is important in Vinho Verde. Fernão Pires contributes character to the southern wines. Sercial, Verdelho, Bual and Malvasia, along with Terrantez, make the classic styles of Madeira.


Click on the regions for more information.

Wine Regions of Portugal