– AUTHENTICS OF PORTUGAL –
CRAFTED FROM NATIVE GRAPES SUCH AS TOURIGA NACIONAL AND ALVARINHO, PORTUGUESE WINES OFFER DISTINCTIVE FLAVOUR AND AUTHENTICITY

Qualities such as authenticity and identity are highly valued when discussing wines.

These attributes often shine through in wines produced from autochthonous grape varieties native to a specific region. Such “regional” grapes help preserve the individuality of local winemaking instead of relying solely on internationally renowned varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay.

Portugal is one of the most significant countries in this field of indigenous grapes. Experts estimate that the country has more than 250 grape varieties, spread across 14 wine-producing regions. Among the most notable Portuguese varieties are the red Touriga Nacional, Baga, Castelão and Trincadeira, and the white Arinto, Encruzado, Loureiro and Alvarinho.
“All grape varieties can give rise to unique and distinctive wines. Portugal has around 252 native varieties, and this wealth is even more special because each one expresses, in an authentic way, the terroir in which it grows. That is what we strive for: wines that reveal the character of their provenance,” explains Osvaldo Amado, one of Europe’s most respected and award-winning oenologists and the owner of Casa dos Amados, located in the heart of the Bairrada wine region.

NATIONAL IDENTITY

Amado notes that he has devoted significant attention to wines made from a single grape variety monovarietals even though they represent only a small share of Portuguese production: just 5%, compared with 95% blends. According to him, it is important to demonstrate that Portugal is capable of crafting extraordinary wines from each of these varieties. “When we present a single-variety wine, it must be truly representative of the region it comes from.
If it is Baga (a red grape native to Bairrada), it must show the intense aromas and structure that define it. If it is Encruzado (a white from the Dão region), it should display its exotic floral profile. If it is Loureiro (a white from the Vinho Verde region), it needs freshness, vibrant acidity and longevity. The same applies to many other varieties,” Amado emphasises.
This distinctive identity of each grape aligns perfectly with the exclusivity of the terroir, the Portuguese oenologist adds. “A wine from Alentejo is not the same as one from the Douro, which in turn is very different from one from Bairrada or Beira Interior. This diversity is what makes Portugal so special. This phenomenon occurs worldwide, of course, but in Portugal this richness is concentrated within a small territory, which further accentuates the uniqueness of our wines.”
.

REGIONS THAT SET THE STANDARD

Several regions in Portugal have become benchmarks for high-quality wines. Osvaldo Amado highlights Baga, Arinto, Touriga Nacional and Encruzado as varieties that offer the Portuguese wine sector the opportunity to showcase to the world what is unique and distinctive. “Naturally, regions such as Bairrada and Dão stand out for the originality and strong identity of their wines. Baga, Arinto and Encruzado, for example, are varieties that express the character of these regions in an exceptionally authentic way and demonstrate why they are considered great grapes of Portugal and of the world,” he explains.

According to the oenologist, the most widely grown grapes in Portugal are not always the ones best known internationally. Among the whites, for instance, there are widely planted varieties such as Maria Gomes, Fernão Pires and Sercial, in addition to the prestigious Alvarinho and Encruzado. “Alvarinho, particularly in the Minho region, is sought after for its texture, freshness, minerality and longevity. Encruzado, meanwhile, is an extraordinary grape noted for its finesse, elegance and remarkable gastronomic versatility. Among the reds, there is no doubt that Touriga Nacional is the star. It adapts well to almost every region of the country, unlike Baga, for example, which is largely confined to its birthplace in Bairrada and requires very specific conditions to reach excellence,” he notes.

A JOURNEY OF FLAVOUR

For those wishing to embark on this journey through Portuguese wines, Osvaldo Amado recommends beginning with lighter, fresher and easily approachable wines those that immediately convey the pleasure of wine without requiring extensive experience from the consumer. Over time, curiosity will naturally lead to more complex wines that demand greater attention and offer a deeper experience.
“Another essential point is pairing wines with gastronomy. Portugal has an extraordinarily rich cuisine, and each dish can highlight in its own way the distinctive characteristics of a grape variety or a region. This interplay between wine and food is one of the best ways to understand, in practice, the diversity and richness of our grapes,” he concludes.