Alentejo
Styles
Principal grape varieties
EncruzadoPerrum (Perrum Branco)Pinot GrisPetit Verdot (Verdot Petit)SercialBicalDoña Blanca (Siria)Pinot NoirSémillonViognierCorropio (Rayada Melonera)Malvasia Rei (Palomino Fino)TamarezListan Del Condado (Manteudo)Manteudo PretoMalvasia FinaSyrahVerdelho (Verdelho Branco)Talia (Trebbiano Toscano)TannatCabernet-SauvignonArintoMerlotRabo De OvelhaTrincadeiraCarignanAlvarinhoFernao PiresSauvignonCastelaoAntao VazLariaoTrincadeira Das PratasAragonez (Tempranillo Tinto)Riesling (Riesling Weiss)Alicante Bouschet (Alicante Henri Bouschet)Grand NoirAlicante Branco (Planta Fina)Grossa (Carrega Tinto)Grenache (Garnacha Tinta)Bruñal (Alfrocheiro)CaladocTinto CaoZinfandel (Primitivo)ChasselasCinsautGouveioGewürztraminer (Gewuerztraminer)Touriga FrancaTouriga NacionalTinta CarvalhaTinta Caiada (Parraleta)ChardonnayTinta BarrocaTinta Miuda (Graciano)BagaDiagalves (Diana Hamburg)Mourisco Branco (Cayetana Blanca)MoretoMoscatel Graudo (Muscat Of Alexandria)
The Portuguese regulator (IVV) does not distinguish principal vs accessory varieties — every authorised casta is listed together in the caderno de especificações.
Terroir
Natural factors
- Temperate Mediterranean-continental climate: ~3,000 hours of sunshine per year and average rainfall of 550–650 mm, concentrated in winter.
- The flatness of the Alentejo plain prevents condensation of Atlantic moisture; the rare orographic features differentiate the sub-regions.
- Portalegre: predominantly granito-derived soils, with patches of xisto derivatives and quartzites; annual rainfall of 900–1,000 mm.
- Borba: soils derived from crystalline limestones, with patches of red xistos; exceptionally high annual rainfall (750–850 mm).
- Reguengos and Redondo: soils dominated by eruptive rocks (quartz-diorites), with patches of red xistos.
Human factors
- Winemaking techniques using talhas and amphorae, inherited from Roman and Phoenician traditions, survive to this day in Alentejo wineries.
- The DO Alentejo was regulated in 1988, giving rise to the CVRA in 1989; post-Reconquista viticultural expansion has been documented since 1143.
Product characteristics
- A climate with ~3,000 hours of sunshine per year favours sugar accumulation and the concentration of colouring matter in the grape skins.
- Winemaking techniques using talhas and amphorae, with Roman and Phoenician roots, remain in use in the wineries of the DO.
Terroir / wine link
- High sunshine hours (~3,000 per year) in the lead-up to harvest favour sugar accumulation and the concentration of colouring matter in the berry skins.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the the caderno de especificações.
Sources
- eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-PT-A1542
- Official trade body site — Comissão Vitivinícola Regional Alentejana