Discover the Wine Regions of Portugal
Did you know?
- Portugal is the 11th largest wine producer in the world.
- Vineyards have been planted in this region for more than 4000 years.
- From north to south, and including the Atlantic archipelagos of Azores and Madeira, Portugal counts 14 different wine regions.
- These regions produce 250 native grape varieties, and some aren’t grown anywhere else in the world.
- Portugal has more indigenous wine varieties than any other country in the world.
- Not only the country, but the Portuguese people are also impressive when it comes to wine. Guess what? Portugal manage to reach an average consumption of 72 bottles of wine per person per year. 🍷
Let's take a look at some of the
best regions and wine experiences you can enjoy in Portugal.
My Top 3 Suggestions
Vinho Verde
📍 North Portugal (Minho)
The northern Minho region is the home of Portugal’s favorite wine
during summer. Even though its name translates as “green wine”,
Vinho Verde can be white, red or rosé, and it stands for an acidic
and slightly fizzy wine produced in the region that goes by the same
name. The wines produced in the Vinho Verde region take their
personality from the nearby Atlantic, and the abundant rainfall and
cold temperatures this part of Portugal has. Keep your eyes peeled for single-varietal wines, particularly of Alvarinho and Loureiro, which are some of the most popular grape varieties grown in Vinho Verde.
Douro
📍 North Portugal (Douro river)
Thanks to the worldwide popularity of Port wine, Douro is the most
well-known wine region of Portugal. Not only is this one of the oldest
wine-growing regions in the world, it’s also one of the oldest
origin-protected wine regions globally, having gained that status back
in the 17th century. Since 2001, Douro has also been protected by
UNESCO as World Heritage. Douro is the birthplace of Port wine, but
there’s much more to be explored around here! Don’t underestimate the
red and whites from this region, and even other fortified wines such
as Moscatel.
Alentejo
📍 South Portugal
Alentejo accounts one third of Portugal’s map and is the place where a
lot of the food and wine consumed in the country comes from. The
temperatures and soils around the Alentejo vary, from coastal to
interior, to temperate to fiercely hot, and so do the profiles of the
wines produced in this region. Alentejo has been a demarcated wine
region since 1988 and it has 8 different sub-regions. It is best known
for its red wine, the best of which are sold under the and Alentejo
DOC title, but a white wine from this region won't disappoint you
either!