Know more about the wine regions of Portugal

  

Azores

The Azores were colonized in the middle of the XVth century, and it is thought that the Franciscan friars started the planting of the vine on these islands. Due to the construction of churches, they had to import wine, the essential element of mass celebration. Since the very beginning these monks discovered great similarities between the climate conditions of Sicily and some of the islands of the archipelago, and that was the reason for bringing several Verdelho plants (the most well-known grape variety at that time), and its expansion was quick and abundant. The wine produced became famous and was largely exported to all the Northern Europe and event to Russia. After the Bolshevik revolution of 1917, bottles of "Verdelho do Pico" wine were found in the wine-cellars of the former Russian tsars.

The vine spread during centuries, guaranteeing wine production for home consume, as well as for export to Brazil and several European courts, due to its quality and traditional prestige.

Three VQPRD (Quality Wine Produced in Demarcated Region) are distinguished in the Azores: - the fortified from the Pico Island that results from the grapes cultivated in stony lands located on the western coast, where the vine area is quite reduced and the plots are surrounded by loose stones, that have the name of "enclosure" and that aim to protect the plants from the string winds;

- the white wines of the Graciosa Island that result from the grapevines cultivated in "enclosures", like on the Pico Island;

- the region of the fortified dos Biscoitos is the Terceira Island, the name results from the way the vine is planted in mounds of stony land (os Biscoitos) by human hands.

in SISAB magazine February 2001

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Alentejo

The vastness of almost plain horizons allied to its southern position give Alentejo Mediterranean and Continental characteristics. The insolation levels are quite high, what is reflected on grapes maturation, especially in the months before the vintage, these levels are responsible for the perfect sugar accumulation and colouring substances in the pellicle of the grains.

The vineyards are mainly located in the geological substratum of plutonic rocks (granites, syenites and others); however the rocky stains where the vines are installed are worth referring (namely schistose and clayish stains).

It's also worth pointing out that the best ground is chosen for cereals cultures and farming, that's why the vine and olive trees, due to their rusticity, are destined for soils with weak capacity of use.

Satisfying high quality standards according to the wine tradition of this region, the Regional Wine of Alentejo presents quite special characteristics.

in site Instituto do Vinho e da Vinha

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Algarve

Situated in the very South of continental Portugal, Algarve is a well-defined region, a compartment with characteristic features gained due to proximity to the sea, climate, natural vegetation and original culture strongly marked by the long Arab presence.

Its southern position, mountain barrier protection against northern winds and amphitheatric shape make the climate strongly Mediterranean: hot, dry, with little winds and reduced temperature amplitudes and with an average insolation higher than 3.000 hours per year.

Besides the Regional Wine Algarve, a fortified wine of great tradition is produced in this region.

in site Instituto do Vinho e da Vinha

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Beiras

The wine production in the region of Beiras goes back to Roman times, the fact proved by the existence of fruit presses cut in the granite rocks (anthropomorphic presses) where the wine was produced in ancient times. Its quality has been highlighted throughout our history.

This region is stretched, in the longitudinal direction, from the Atlantic Ocean up to Spain, having a frontier with the region of Minho and Douro lands in the North, and with Alta Estremadura, Ribatejo and Alentejo in the South. Therefore, it represents a rich variety of climate conditions. Such factors as greater or minor proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the influence of various orographic accidents on the climate conditions, and the difference of existing soils, determine the specific characteristics of the wines produced in this region which justify the division in three sub-regions for the production of Regional Wine: Beira Litoral, Beira Alta and Terras de Sicó.

in site Instituto do Vinho e da Vinha

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Estremadura

Estremadura is the region with the biggest wines production and vine area, on the national level.

The relief, not very high but constant, establishes separation from the lower Ribatejo part. Except in the south where some basalt and granite strata appear, the region is constituted almost totally by secondary argillo-calcareous and argillo-arenaceous formations. The climate is tempered, without big thermal amplitudes, with the annual pluvious index between 600 and 700 mm.

The Regional Wine Estremadura attains a significant market quota on the national level. The production of Vinho Leve with very specific characteristics is also worth pointing out, as well as the traditional fortified wine with the geographical indication of Estremadura, and the red wine palhete produced in the region of Ourém, with a complementary designation of "Palhete de Ourém".

In the geographic area of Estremadura, a sub-region of Alta Estremadura is recognized.

in site Instituto do Vinho e da Vinha

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Madeira

Discovered in 1418, the Madeira Island turned to be of great interest for the Infant D. Henrique who considered it privileged for vine planting.

It was necessary to set on fire thick forests that covered the ground almost totally. The legend says it burned for as long as seven years.

With a mild climate and volcanic and basaltic soil, the vine conquered the ground and transformed Madeira's landscape. A very parcelled minifundium, highly valued by the intense and varied policulture that traditionally associates livestock raising to corn, beans, potato, banana and vine in the periphery, are almost identical to those we find in the Minho region.

In this small rural world, the vine occupies some 1700 hectares and is destined mostly to VLQRPD "Madeira" (Fortified Quality Wine Produced in Demarcated Region), a fortified wine of international renown, and the main export product already in the XVIIth century. The region chosen for this culture is that of the sunny slopes turned to the South where the high vine gives shelter to another cultures, although low vine is also cultivated, especially in the area neighbouring the sea.

in SISAB magazine February 2001

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Minho

The vine of the region of Minho has unique characteristics due to its predominant position on the boundaries of cultivated fields and dead areas of agricultural explorations.

The genuine culture hardly reaches 10% of the vine area of the region. Normally, it grows at the considerable height from the ground.

The vine on borders is the culture associated to cultivation of corn on irrigated land (Spring-Summer) and of annual fodder (Autumn-Winter). The frame systems vary throughout the region. Nowadays, it's still possible to find frames shaped as branches or props for vines, with the height varying between half a meter and six or seven meters, these two rest on live guardians formed by trees (chestnut, plane or poplar).

Modern supports are based on different types of thick cords and hangers, in order to save on man labour.

in site Instituto do Vinho e da Vinha

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Ribatejo

Throughout the region of Ribatejo, due to its landscape, three areas with totally different characteristics can be distinguished; they are named as "lezíria", "bairro" and "charneca".

The "lezíria", which corresponds to plain, is flooded by Tagus river and is constituted by alluvium soils of high quality, therefore the vine here exhibits all its force; the "bairro", on the right side of Tagus, emerges with a slightly accentuated relief of sandstone, limestone and clay formations that give it various shades; the "charneca", representing poorer soil, occupies the left bank of Tagus.

Due to the proximity of the river crossing the region, the Ribatejo climate is tempered south-Mediterranean and has an annual pluvious index of around 500-600 mm.

The wines produced in this region have quite special differentiated characteristics that make them very appreciated and justify the fame that has accompanied them since ancient times.

in site Instituto do Vinho e da Vinha

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Terras do Sado

This region, especially famous for production of appreciated Moscatel de Setúbal, owns a long tradition of wine making that goes back to the times of Phoenicians and Greeks, and that has been evolving up to modern times.

The whole district of Setúbal is included in this denomination. The vine is planted in very different soils that vary from limestone soils till Mediterranean derived from sandstones, clays, schist, etc.

The climate is mixed, sub-tropical and Mediterranean, with small temperature amplitudes and pluviosity index between 500 and 700 mm, all of these characteristics gained due to closeness of the sea, to the river Sado basin, as well as to the orography of the region.

The edafo-climatic conditions of this region and the typicalness of grape varieties used influence significantly quality attributes of this regional wine.

in site Instituto do Vinho e da Vinha

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Trás-os-Montes

Already during the Roman occupation the vine was cultivated and the wine was made in this region. Generally, the wines from the region of Trás-os-Montes are quite different due to microclimates they are exposed to (altitude, sun exposure, continentality, pluviosity, temperature, etc.), representing some quality characteristics worth mentioning.

The soils are predominantly schistose with some granite stains, sometimes some clayish, gneissic and alluvium stains appear. Generally, this is the soil rich in potassium, but poor in limestone and phosphoric acid.

In the geographic area of the Regional Wine Trás-os-Montes production the sub-region "Terras Durienses" is recognized due to the specific characteristics of the wine produced.

in site Instituto do Vinho e da Vinha

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