Wine from Portugal

Portugiesische Berglandschaft mit saftig grünen Weinbergen in Terrassen angelegt mit Blick auf den Fluß Douro

When it comes to the development of distinctive wines, Portugal can look back on a long and traditional history. For 4,000 years, generations have successively devoted themselves to viniculture, refined winemaking and selected around 250 autochthonous grape varieties that are native only to Portugal. The diversity of wine from Portugal is unique in the world.

Portugal is often called the „New World of the Old World“ because it combines the best of both worlds: Dynamic, partly still very young winemakers with state-of-the-art training and new ideas are also aware of the grown identity and traditional winemaking methods. Thus, the new generation focuses on fruit, where in the past the rustic dominated. The commitment of the Portuguese winemakers is reflected in their wines. Inspired by history, science and art, Portuguese wines have a strong personality, an unmistakable taste and offer excellent quality that is increasingly attracting international recognition.

Learn more

More information about wine from Portugal

If one were to summarise everything there is to say about the wine country of Portugal in one sentence, it would perhaps be this: Portugal is a small country with great wines. This already covers the most important aspect. The time when Portuguese wines were shelved on the second row in the wine aisle is long forgotten. Portugal's winemakers have not only made up for lost ground but have also developed enormously over the past two decades. Today, Portugal is often referred to as the "New World of the Old World" because the winemakers combine the best of both worlds. A new awareness of quality and modern techniques paired with traditional methods have fundamentally revolutionised Portuguese viticulture. A new generation of dynamic and often very young winemakers, equipped with the latest training and new ideas, has taken the helm.

Portuguese wine represents surprising freshness and elegance

The new wine producers are aware of the growing identity of Portuguese wine and traditional viticulture methods, focusing on fruit, strong body, distinctive taste and excellent quality. Thus, in Europe, one now knows not only the classics Port and Madeira from the country in the far west of the continent. Today, Portugal is also known for its exceptional white wines, red wines, sparkling wines or rosés. Portuguese wines impress with surprising freshness, but also elegance. And they are a pleasure that every wine lover can afford.

Millennia-old winegrowing tradition

A millennia-old winegrowing tradition is what many wine regions claim, but it is actually true in Portugal. Portuguese winegrowing can be traced back far into history. Even in mythology, it is said that Lusus, the companion of the wine god Bacchus (Greek Dionysus), was the namesake of the Roman province of Lusitania, which is relatively identical to modern-day Portugal. The name of the mythological figure indicates that winegrowing was already known at that time. Apart from mythology, the old European truth also holds: where Phoenicians, Greeks, or Romans settled, there was also winegrowing. It was regarded as a 'civilisational duty'. It is also known that in the Tejo and Douro regions, as well as in southern Portugal, wine was highly valued even in pre-Christian times.

Professional wine cultivation in Portugal in the 12th century

Certainly holds that Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans brought the first vines and thus viticulture to Portugal. From the 12th century, monasteries, in particular, influenced wine production. The Cistercian Order alone established 18 monasteries in Portugal, bringing with it its accumulated wine knowledge and dedicating itself sustainably to wine production. King Dom Dinis (translated as 'King Dionysius'), the sixth king of Portugal, was also a friend of agriculture and viticulture, earning him the nickname 'King of the Farmers'. He succeeded in structuring agriculture so effectively that he was able to build a trading fleet from the yields. It is the wealth of this era that laid the foundation for Portugal's great successes as a maritime and trading power under the famous Henry the Navigator (1394–1460).

Flourishing wine trade with Great Britain

Other fixed points in Portuguese winemaking tradition are the Battle of Aljubarrota/Alcobaça in 1385 and the Treaty of Windsor. After these historical events, a flourishing wine trade with Great Britain began. The fact that English wine merchants discovered Portuguese red wine as an alternative to the French was also due to the high tariffs imposed by William III on red wine from France.

Madeira wines are becoming a hit in exports

Prince Henry the Navigator had a great influence on the winemaking history of Portugal. He rediscovered the island of Madeira and had Muscat and Malvasia grapes planted there. This laid the foundation for the now world-famous dessert wines from Madeira. Port wine also became a bestseller during that time. Significantly, the importance of viticulture in Portugal is highlighted by the fact that in 1756, the region for port wine production was legally defined, namely the Alto Douro and Douro area. Such a law was unique in the world at that time. The destruction of the vineyards by powdery mildew and phylloxera initially set back wine production again, before numerous wine cooperatives were founded in Portugal in 1930, which continue to play an important role in the Portuguese wine landscape today. The opening of Portugal to the EU also contributed to the renaissance of Portuguese viticulture.

Portuguese red wine from the interior

The wine production in Portugal today is characterised by contrasts: in the interior, heavy, tannin-rich red wines and port wine are produced, while in the cool Atlantic climate of the north, lighter wines like Vinho Verde are produced. The vineyard area covers nearly 240,000 hectares, making it the seventh largest in the world. Portugal produces about 7 million hectolitres of wine per year and ranks 11th in the world wine-producing countries, just behind Germany.

Indigenous grape varieties and rooted rarities

There are around 500 indigenous grape varieties, known as Castas, in Portugal. These are grape varieties that only thrive here. This diversity is thanks to the variety of climatic, geological, and topographical conditions in Portugal. And this diversity, which can also sometimes be found in a vineyard, represents the immense strength of Portuguese winemaking. Approximately 341 varieties are actually permitted for wine production. The main red grape varieties are Alfrocheiro, Tinta Roriz, Baga, Touriga Francesca, Aragonez/Tinta Roriz, Castelão, Alicante Bouschet, Trincadeira, Verdelho, and Touriga Nacional. The main white grape varieties are called Alvarinho, Arinto, Encruzado, and Maria Gomes. In addition, Portuguese winemakers also rely on French grape varieties that help to meet international wine tastes.

Portuguese for wine lovers

Portuguese red wine is generally divided into the following categories:

Garrafeira: Long-aged, high-quality wine

Quinta: Estate, country estate

Vinho Branco: White wine

Vinho Maduro: Aged wine

Vinho Regional: Wine from a specific wine region, corresponds to IGP

Vinho Tinto: Red wine

Vinho Verde: Young white, red and rosé wine