Portuguese grapes varieties

Portuguese red grapes:

Alfrocheiro Preto: main grape in the Dao, rich in color.

Aragonês: see Tinta Roriz.

Baga: main grape used for wines in Bairrada appellation, also used in Alentejo and Ribatejo. High quality grape.

Bastardo: funny named grape grown in the Douro, early ripening. Used in Dao extensively.

Castelão Frances: see "Tricadeira Preta". Called "Periquita" in Ribatejo, and "Joao do Santarem".

Encruzado: high alcoholic white grape seen frequently in the Dão.

Moreto: widely grown blender grape all over Portugal, not used in single varietal wines.

Mourisco: small plantings in the Douro.

Ramisco: main grape in Colares region, very tannic.

Tinto Cão: Douro grape also being used to make high quality still red wines.

Tinta Amarela: grown in the Douro, Ribatejo, Estremadura and also Alentejo (where it is called Trincadeira Preta).

Tinta Barroca: ancient grape varietal, grown in the Douro for hundreds of years, one of the blender grapes for most ports. Interestingly this grape is being grown widely in South Africa.

Tinta Roriz: called Tempranillo in Spain, in Portugal it is used widely in Port making and also in the production of still reds in the Alentejo where it is called " Aragonês", in Dao and in the Douro for table wines.

Touriga Francesa: one of the main grapes grown in the Douro (over 20% of all plantings), characterized by its powerful bouquet.

Touriga Nacional: considered to be one of the best grapes in Portugal, a noble variety, One of the principal grapes grown in the Douro Valley for port wines and also the Dao.

Trincadeira Preta: also called Tinta Amarela and Castelão Frances.

Portuguese white grapes:

Antao Vaz: citrussy, acidic grape used in Alentejo.

Alvarinho: grown in Northern Portugal and used for Vinho Verde, high quality. Some say related to the "Albariño" of Galicia, Spain.

Arinto: used in the Bucelas appellation for still and sparkling wines, also widely in the Alentejo (for delicious dry, lemony fruity whites), Bairrada, Setúbal and other regions.

Avesso: used in the Vinho Verde appellation, aromatic and acidic.

Boal: there are five strains of this grape, the most famous being the Boal used in Madeira.

Códega: historic Portuguese varietal which produces good alcohol, low acidity and high yields. Also called "Roupeiro".

Esgana Cão: colorfully translates as "Dog Strangler"! Also called "Sercial" in Madeira. Highly acidic white used as a blender grape all over Portugal.

Fernão Pires: reminiscent of Muscat this is an aromatic grape used in the Douro, Setúbal, Alentejo and other regions. Called "Maria Gomez" in Bairrada.

Gouveio: see "Verdelho".

Malvasia Fina: aromatic white used all over Portugal including white port.

Malvasia Real: high yielding white, not as well regarded as Malvasia Fina.

Perrum: one of the main white grapes of the Alentejo and also Algarve.

Rabigato: "Ewe´s Tail", this is a high yielding grape grown all over the country. Also called "Rabo d´Ovelha".

Roupeiro: quality grape, honey flavored grape when grown in the Alentejo (also called Codéga").

Sercial: main grape used in Madeira fortified wines.

Verdelho: one of the noble white varietals of Madeira. Australia is growing this Portuguese varietal extensively.

Vioshinho: lesser white of the Douro, used in white ports.