2. Douro

The Douro is the oldest Demarcated Region in the world. Located in the northeast of Portugal, in the Douro river basin, it is surrounded by the Marão and Montemuro mountains, which endow it with particular soil and climate features. Because of intensive wine-growing, the region boasts a landscape all its own, with the famous terraces carved out on the slopes of the valleys that hug the Douro River and its tributaries. The soils basically comprise schist and, in some areas, they are also granite, thus making it especially difficult to work. Such soils benefit vine longevity, as they allow for greater sugar and color concentrations in the must. The most frequently grown grape varieties include Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Tinto Cão and Tinta Roriz.  The Upper Douro Wine Region has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.

3. Bairrada

This wine region is based in the Beira Litoral, an extended littoral lowland between Agueda and Coimbra. The climate is tempered and oceanic with heavy rains. Two types of soils coexist: Clayey-sandy and clayey-muddy. In this region we can find two different philosophies: the “classic school” opting for single-varietal wines produced with Baga, and the “new school” using several varieties as Alfrocheiro, Tinta Pinheira, Touriga Nacional, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot noir and Syrah. The red wines from Bairrada are generally very colourful and present a high level of tannins which gives them a great longevity.

4. Tejo

This region of large alluvial lowlands is located on both sides of the Tejo river. The climate is tempered with Mediterranean influences. The soils are diversified according to their distance from the Tejo river. We can find fertile alluvial soils near the river, in the South, we can find sandy soils, poorer in minerals and, in the north, clayey-sandy soils with uneven terrains favourable for vine culture. In this region, we use national and foreign varieties. For white wines: Arinto, Fernão Pires, Talia, Trincadeira das Pratas, Vital, Chardonay and Cabernet Sauvignon. For red wines, the most common grape varieties are: Castelão, Trincadeira, Aragonez, Touriga Nacional, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The diversity of wines we can find in this region perfectly reflects its differences of soils, from the softest and fruitiest to the most powerful and structured ones.

5. Alentejo

Alentejo represents the austral third of the national surface. Mainly composed of lowlands, with granitic, marble, clayey soils, it offers an incomparable diversity. The climate is Mediterranean, hot and dry. Alentejo is subdivided with 8 small counties: Borba, Evora, Granja-Amareleja, Moura, Portalegre, Redondo, Reguengos and Vidigueira. Each county shares geographic and geologic differences which gender diverse wines. White regional grape varieties: Antão Vaz, Arinto, Roupeiro, Diagalves, Manteudo and Rabo de Ovelha. Red regional varieties: Alfrocheiro, Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Castelão, Trincadeira, Moreto, Tinta Caiada and Tinta Grossa. Alentejo red wines are famous for their tightness, well balanced with fruity tastes and tannins’ grade. They share intense colours and aromas. White Alentejo wines are globally appreciated for their enjoyable citrus fruits tasting notes and well balanced aromas.