Portugal
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Southern Regions
Southern Regions Colares Bucelas Carcavelos Porto Alegre Setubal Borba Redondo Reguengos Vidigueira Lagos Portimao Lagoa Tavira Coruche Arrabida Palmela Evora
Moura
Granja/Amareleja
Alentejo
Terras do Sado
Algarve
Designed and
maintained by FLB Enterprises
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Colares This tiny vineyard enclave on the atlantic coast north west of Lisbon produces one of Portugal's most historic wines. Planted in sandy cliff- top soils, the vines survived the phylloxera epidemic which swept through Europe in the nineteenth century and continue to grow on their own rootstock. A clear distinction is therefore made between wines from the Chao de Areia (sandy ground) and those from the Chao Rijo (so called 'hard ground'). GRAPE VARIETIES UP BUCELAS Protected from the Tagus estuary by a range of hills, this small vineyard region centred on a village of the same name produces dry white wines The grape varieties are well suited to the locale, retaining high levels of natural acidity despite the warm maritime climate. This has been recognised by a number of important producers who are currently investing in the region.
WINES (DOC regulations only permit white) UP CARCAVELOS This small historic region producing fortified wines has almost been swallowed up as a result of its proximity to Lisbon. One producer remains. GRAPE VARIETIES WINES UP PORTO ALEGRE The northern most vineyards in the Alentejo are situated on the granite foothills of the Serra de Sao Mamede around the city of Portalegre and the towns of Marvao and Castelo de Vide. They are higher and therefore considerably cooler than those to the south of the province, which has an important bearing on the style of the wines. GRAPE VARIETIES WINES UP Setubal This rich, fortified wine from the region around the fishing port of Setubal has a long and distinguished history. Made predominantly from a number of different types of Muscat, it may be labelled as Moscatel de Setubal provided it is made from at least 85% of the variety stated on the label. Local regulations permit other grape varieties as well which are sometimes blended to boost natural levels of acidity. Prolonged maceration on Muscat grape skins following fortification contribute to the pungent aroma and concentrated character of Setubal. GRAPE VARIETIES WINES UP BORBA In the heart of the Alentejo. vast seams of marble surround the small, white-washed towns of Borba, Estremoz and Vila Vicosa. Away from the slabs of quarried rock, small plots of vines are planted on well- drained limestone soils. A co-operative winery is located on the edge of the town of Borba itself. GRAPE VARIETIES WINES UP REDONDO At the centre of a broad vale, the brilliant white-washed town of Redondo is protected to the north by the Serra d'0ssa, the only range of hills in the Alentejo. Vineyards planted on schistous and granite based soils tend to be found close to the town with its large co-operative winery. GRAPE VARIETIES WINES UP REGUENGOS The town of Reguengos de Monsaraz, with its large agricultural co- operative, has become one of the principal wine making centres in the Alentejo. With over 3,000 hours of sunshine in a year, it is ideal country for cereals and grapes. Soils tend to schistous (in places not dissimilar to those of the Douro) but on the flat plains, vineyards are extensive and relatively easy to cultivate. GRAPE VARIETIES WINES UP VIDIGUEIRA A low scarp just to the north of the towns of Vidigueira, Cu ba and Alvito marks the physical boundary between the Alto Alentjo to the north and the Baixo Alentejo which extends to the Algarve in the south. The rolling plains around the towns are planted predominately with white grapes. The name Vidigueira derives from the word 'videira' meaning wine. GRAPE VARIETIES WINES UP LAGOS The most westerly of four DOC regions in the Algarve, the Lagos wine region extends from the city of Lagos on the southern coast along the Atlantic cliff-tops to the border with the Alentejo. Most wines are consumed locally. GRAPE VARIETIES UP PORTIMAO The smallest of the three Algarvean DOC regions extends inland from the fishing port of Portimao along the estuary of the River Arade. Most wines are consumed locally. GRAPE VARIETIES UP LAGOA This large wine region stretches along the Algarvean coast from the town of Lagoa in the west to the outskirts of the provincial capital Fare in the east. A small amount of an established dry fortified wine is still produced in the region from the Crate Branco grape. GRAPE VARIETIES UP TAVIRA Centred on the town of Tavira, the DOC runs along the eastern Algarvean coast from Faro, to the River Guadiana that forms the frontier with Spain. GRAPE VARIETIES UP CORUCHE Vineyards on the flat sandy plains, extending from the River Tagus eastwards towards the parched Alentejo, are naturally irrigated by three small tributaries of the Tagus: the Magos, the Sorraia and the Almansor. Cool breezes blowing inland from the broad Tagus estuary tend to moderate the
climate. GRAPE VARIETIES UP ARRABIDA The north facing slopes of the Serra d'Arrabida have traditionally grown the finest Muscat grapes for Setubal. Today these well-drained limestone soils produce a remarkable range of wines from both indigenous and foreign grape varieties, the best known of which is Castelao Frances or' Periquita'. GRAPE VARIETIES UP PALMELA The sandy soils on the plain below the walled, hill-top town of Palmela are ideally suited to the Castelao Frances grape (better known by its nickname Periquita). Here it produces wines with a distinctive raspberry fruit character when young, gaining complexity with age. GRAPE VARIETIES UP EVORA Evora was an important wine region until phylloxera wiped out many of the vineyards in the last century. Recently this small enclave in the heart of the Alentejo around the provincial capital of Evora has begun to recover and is now a source of ripe flavoured reds and well-balanced, traditional dry white wines. GRAPE VARIETIES UP MOURA Vineyards on red clay soils near the spa town of Moura in the eastern Alentejo produce fleshy, full bodied reds and dry whites with an almost tropical flavour. GRAPE VARIETIES UP GRANJA/AMARELEJA Low yielding vineyards growing on schistous soils against the Spanish border produce small quantities of red wine with wonderful concentration of flavour. GRAPE VARIETIES UP ALENTEJO The Alentejo plains cover almost a third of continental Portugal. The region stretches all the way from the coast, eastwards to the frontier with Spain, The moderating influence of the Atlantic diminishes sharply inland and low summer rainfall is a continual problem. In complete contrast to the northern regions of Portugal, the Alentejo is divided into large estates, some hundreds of hectares in size. Population is sparse and cultivation is extensive with vineyards tending to be concentrated around small towns and villages. The Alentejo also produces a large proportion of the world's cork. GRAPE VARIETIES WINES UP TERRAS DO SADO Centred on the fishing port of Setubal at the mouth of the River Sado,
Terras do Sado stretches form the south bank of the Tagus opposite Lisbon down
the Atlantic coast beyond the town of Sines. Most of the vineyards are
concentrated in the north of the region on the limestone slopes of the Serra da
Arrabida and sandy soils along the northern side of the Sado estuary. GRAPE VARIETIES WINES UP ALGARVE Vinho Regional Algarve encompasses the entire province, from the holiday coast to the mountains inland that provide a natural barrier from the plains of the Alentejo to the north. Nearly all wine is produced by co-operatives for local consumption. GRAPE VARIETIES UP Designed and
maintained by FLB Enterprises
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