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Central Region
Castelo Rodrigo
Pinhel
Dao
Bairrada
Encostas de Nave
Lafoes
Varosa
Cova da Beira Designed and
maintained by FLB Enterprises
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Portugal
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Central Region
Castelo Rodrigo
Pinhel
Dao
Bairrada
Encostas de Nave
Lafoes
Varosa
Cova da Beira Designed and
maintained by FLB Enterprises
|
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CASTELO RODRIGO A region of small, scattered vineyards growing on the upper reaches of the River Coa and the broad valley of the River Seca. Shallow soils and climatic extremes make viticulture difficult, but despite the physical limitations, some full spicy red wines are produced. GRAPE VARIETIES UP PINHEL Upland wine region centred on the city of Pinhel with vineyards planted along the upper reaches of the River Coa, a tributary of the River Douro. Full, fruit reds, traditional whites many of which are sold off to the sparkling wine industry. GRAPE VARIETIES UP DAO Land-locked by mountains, Dao has long been the source of some of Portugal's
most venerable red wines. named after the River Dao, a tributary of the River
Mondego which flows through the region, the Dao DOC takes in three river
valleys, rising to the footslopes of Portugal's highest mountain range, the
Serra da Estrela Small vineyards are planted on granite soils amid the forests
of pine and eucalyptus which cover much of the country GRAPE VARIETIES WINES UP BAIRRADA Like much of northern and central Portugal, Bairrada is a rural area divided
into agricultural smallholdings. Situated on the literal between the mountains
and the coast south of Porto, this strip of fertile clay soils is very
intensively farmed. Tall pine and eucalyptus trees shelter small plots of
cereal, beans and vines. GRAPE VARIETIES WINES UP ENCOSTAS DE NAVE Centred on the town of Moimenta da Beira, the vineyards of Encostas de Nave stretch along the River Tlvora from the high southern margins of the Douro to the edge of Dao. Grape varieties are similar to those of the Douro producing lighter wines because of the altitude of the vineyards GRAPE VARIETIES UP LAFOES Sandwiched between Vinho Verde and Dao, high trained vines resembling those
grown in Vinho Verde make similarly light, crisp dry white wines sometimes known
as verdascos. GRAPE VARIETIES UP VAROSA The high land above the Douro and the city of Lamego is principally a source of dry white wine for the local sparkling wine (espumante) industry. GRAPE VARIETIES UP COVA DA BEIRA This large vineyard region extends all the way from the cool, sub-alpine footslopes of the Serra da Estrela to the hot plains north of the Tagus, covering most of the province of Beira Baixa. The wines vary accordingly, with most of the production around the towns of Coviha and Fundao in the north of the region. GRAPE VARIETIES UP ENCOSTAS D'AIRE Named after the Serra d'Aire, his large wine region covers limestone hills around the towns of Leiria, Fatima and Pombal. Wines tend to be light and quite traditional in style. GRAPE VARIETIES UP ALCOBACA The low hills around the famous monastic town are covered with high yielding vineyards planted predominantly with white varieties. The climate is tempered by proximity to the Atlantic and the wines tend to be light and moderately low in alcohol. GRAPE VARIETIES UP OBIDOS Situated close to the walled town of Obidos , this region encompasses rolling country-side around the villages of Bombarral and Cadaval, each of which has a large wine-making co-operative. White wines predominate. GRAPE VARIETIES UP ALENQUER The rolling country around the small, whitewashed town of Alenquer is well protected From the Atlantic by the Serra de Montejunto Grapes from vineyards along the Alenquer and Ota river valleys ripen easily to produce balanced, full-flavoured reds and gentle dry whites. GRAPE VARIETIES UP ARRUDA Such is the economic importance of wine in this area north of Lisbon that the
small town of Arruda dos Vinhos has wine enshrined in its name. GRAPE VARIETIES UP TOMAR Vineyards covering the low limestone hills on the northern bank of the Tagus
around the towns of Tomar and Torres Novas have the capacity to produce firm,
full flavoured red wines. GRAPE VARIETIES UP SANTAREM The Ribatejo's provincial capital has a commanding view of the Tagus and the vineyards on the plain alongside the river. The region includes the productive, naturally irrigated leziria or flood plain as well the dry limestone hills around Rio Maior. GRAPE VARIETIES UP CARTAXO In terms of volume, Cartaxo is the largest wine region in the Ribatejo stretching from the borders with Alenquer and Arruda to the River Tagus itself. The region produces some ripe fleshy reds from vineyards on the productive fertile flood plain and the dry heath away from the river. GRAPE VARIETIES UP ALMEIRIM A bridge connects the city of Santarem with the agricultural town of Almeirim on the south side of the Tagus The river terraces tend to produce wines with more character than the fertile flood plain (known locally as the 'leziria') with its high yielding vineyards naturally irrigated by the river. GRAPE VARIETIES UP CHAMUSCA Chamusca adjoins Almeirim on the south side of the Tagus and splits in much the same way between the fertile flood plain and the dry heath away from the river. GRAPE VARIETIES UP TORRES VEDRAS Exposed to cool maritime breezes from the Atlantic, high-yielding vineyards around the town of Torres Vedras produce light red and dry white wines. GRAPE VARIETIES UP RIBATEJO This productive wine region spans the broad valley of the River Tagus (Tejo)
extending from the estuary near Lisbon upstream as far as the towns of Tomar and
Abrantes. It produces two very different styles of wine. Vineyards on the
fertile river flood plain produce large amounts of light fruity red and white
wine for drinking young. GRAPE VARIETIES WINES UP BEIRAS The Beiras wine region includes the three provinces of Beira Alta (high Beira), Beira Baixa (low Beira) and Beira Literal (coastal Beira) which span central part of the country from the Spanish frontier to the coast. It is a diverse region which includes the Serra da Estrela, Portugal's highest mountain range, the granite hills south of the Douro as well as the deep, fertile coastal soils. The region has three internal sub-divisions: Terras do Sic6, Beira Literal and Beira Alta. A large number of different varieties are permitted including foreign grapes; Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. GRAPE VARIETIES UP ESTREMADURA This strip of rolling countryside is some times known colloquially as the 'Oeste' in reference to its situation on Portugal's Atlantic west coast. The region is subdivided into Estremadura in the south and Alta- Estremadura around the city of Leiria to the north. The climate of both zones is strongly influenced by the proximity to the Atlantic although mountain ranges like the Serra de Montejunto and Serra d'Aire afford protection for certain areas. Vineyards are largely split among small holders, most of whom are members of a local wine-making co- operative. In terms of volume Estremadura is Portugal's largest single wine producing region. GRAPE VARIETIES WINES UP Designed and
maintained by FLB Enterprises
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