Touriga Franca - The floral port grape variety
Touriga Francesca is an autochthonous red grape variety from Portugal. It is recommended for cultivation in the Trás-os-Montes and Beira Litoral regions. It is also authorised in the Douro, Minho, Ribatejo, Oeste and Madeira regions. It is also used for port wine . Although the variety is usually still registered under its old name Touriga Francesca, it can no longer be officially named as such (for example on labels). The French wine lobby sued Portugal to have this name dropped and won the case in 2002. The variety is therefore now called Touriga Francês. The variety produces dark-coloured red wines which, however, do not achieve the quality of Touriga Nacional wines. It does, however, have a higher yield. Touriga Francesca is a variety of the noble grape (Vitis vinifera). It has hermaphrodite flowers and is therefore self-fertile. In viticulture, the economic disadvantage of not having to cultivate male plants that produce a yield is avoided.
Mateus Rosé
- Sogrape Vinhos
- rosé wine - off dry
- Portugal
- Touriga Franca
Content: 0.75 Liter (€6.67* / 1 Liter)
Barao de Vilar 10 Years Old Tawny Port
- Barão de Vilar
- port wine - sweet
- Portugal - Porto
- Tinta Roriz
- Wine Spectator 2019: 90 points
Content: 0.75 Liter (€21.27* / 1 Liter)
Velhotes Special Reserve Porto
- Calem
- port wine - sweet
- Portugal - Porto
- Touriga Franca
Content: 0.75 Liter (€22.60* / 1 Liter)
Sino da Romaneira Tinto
- Quinta da Romaneira
- Red wine - dry
- Portugal - Douro
- Tinta Cao
Content: 0.75 Liter (€19.93* / 1 Liter)
Callabriga Tinto
- Casa Ferreirinha
- Red wine - dry
- Portugal - Douro
- Touriga Nacional
Content: 0.75 Liter (€39.93* / 1 Liter)
Cistus Douro Tinto Grande Reserva
- Quinta do Vale da Perdiz
- Red wine - dry
- Portugal - Douro
- Touriga Nacional
Content: 0.75 Liter (€53.27* / 1 Liter)
Monte Meão Casa das Máquinas
- Quinta do Vale Meão
- Red wine
- Portugal - Douro
- Touriga Franca
- Jahrgang 2019: Robert Parker: 93 Punkte
Content: 0.75 Liter (€46.60* / 1 Liter)
Profiles
Touriga Franca stands for dark-coloured, dense yet elegant red wines with firm, velvety tannins that contribute to the ageing potential of the blends. Touriga Franca wines have a good body and a moderate alcohol content. On the palate, Touriga Franca is well-structured with expressive acidity.
Flavours
The red, fragrant and fruity Touriga Franca wines are characterised by their lightness and diverse notes of wild berries, wild flowers, violets and herbs. It also scores highly with flavours of concentrated black fruits such as blackcurrant, cherry and plum. Touriga Franca wines also have a hint of wild fruit such as raspberry and blueberry.
Dominant notes:
- Violet
- blueberry
- plum
- Herbs
Possible notes:
- Herbs/flowers: violets, roses, cistus, wildflowers
- Red fruit: Wild raspberry
- Dark fruit: Blackcurrant, blackberry, blueberry, plum, cherry
- Earth/other: Granite dust, graphite, wet slate
- Stored in oak: cocoa, chocolate, nutmeg, couverture
Harmonises with
The light, red, fragrant and fruity Touriga Franca wines harmonise well with grilled meat such as beef steak or lamb chops. They are also a suitable accompaniment to meatballs, bean salad, potato gratin and savoury cheeses such as Appenzeller.
General information
Touriga Franca is an indigenous Portuguese red wine variety. It is considered the most noble grape for port wine production and is mainly cultivated in the Douro region in northern Portugal.
As far as the origin of Touriga Franca is concerned, the grape variety could be identical to the historical varieties Tinta da França or Tinta Francesa. The name Touriga Francesa dates back to the 1940s and does not, however, indicate the grape variety's French roots. Touriga Franca is a natural cross between the Portuguese varieties Marufo and Touriga Nacional and is probably related to the Tinta Barocca variety.
In the wine world, Touriga Franca is also known under the synonyms Albino de Souza, Esgana Cao Tinto, Esgana Cao, Rifete, Touriga Frances, Touriga Francesa and Tinta Barca. Touriga Franca may no longer be officially labelled under its old name Touriga Francesca. France had sued Portugal for the omission of this designation and won the case.
The total of around 14,300 hectares of designated Touriga Franca vineyards worldwide are almost exclusively located in Portugal. Only a few hectares with Touriga Franca vines are registered outside Portugal, namely in South Africa, California, Romania and Australia. The grape variety is ranked 54th in the global ranking, but 5th in the Portuguese grape variety index. Today, it is cultivated almost everywhere in the north of Portugal. The main area of distribution of the Touriga Franca vine is in Portugal's Douro Valley. However, it is also at home in Trás-os-Montes in the north of Portugal, in Lisboa, in Tejo and in Alentejo. Vineyards planted with Touriga Franca vines can also be found in the Portuguese regions of Beira Litoral, Minho, Ribatejo, Oeste and Madeira.
Touriga Franca vines grow vigorously and are very productive. They prefer good, not too dry sites on granite and slate. Touriga Franca ripens over a medium to long period of time and then produces good, predictable yields. As the vine is resistant to most diseases, it is easy to cultivate.
Touriga Franca is ultimately an important component of red Douro blends and is often blended with Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional. It is also one of the five official grape varieties for port wine production and an essential component of the port cuvée. Touriga Franca is also synonymous with good rosé wines. In California and Australia, Touriga Franca is used to produce fortified wines in the port style.