Carcavelos
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Boal BrancoMalvasia FinaRatinhoSeara NovaArintoRabo De OvelhaTrincadeiraCastelaoAmostrinhaGalego DouradoNegra Mole (Mollar Cano)Preto Martinho
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
- Reddish Mediterranean soils derived from calcareous materials, normal calcareous soils, and non-calcareous reddish-brown clay soils.
- Temperate Mediterranean climate, with temperature fluctuations moderated by the proximity of the sea.
- Vines grown on stony or slate-tiled terrain, well-drained, with a south-westerly aspect.
- A micro-region surrounded by gentle hills running parallel to the coast, near the mouth of the River Tejo.
Human factors
- The white fortified wine displays a straw-yellow to deep golden colour; the red, a topaz hue; both develop an almond-tinged aroma that intensifies with ageing.
Product characteristics
- Straw-yellow to deep golden (white) or topaz (red), both with a velvety texture and an almond-tinged aroma.
- Ageing deepens the bouquet while softening the colour; a minimum of 2 years in wood and 6 months in bottle is required.
Terroir / wine link
- Stony and well-drained soils with a south-westerly aspect lend Carcavelos wines their velvety texture and smooth palate.
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-A1462
- Official trade body site — Comissão Vitivinícola da Região de Lisboa