Lafões

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• Vineyards must be established or already planted on humic litholic soils derived from sedimentary and metamorphosed schists, gneisses, granites, and migmatites, with aspects suited to the production of quality wine.
• The region is situated in the westernmost part of the Beira Central and forms a natural sub-region comprising the lands draining into the middle course of the Vouga and its tributaries the Sul and Ribamá, which converge near S. Pedro do Sul.
• Lafões is tucked between the Maciço da Gralheira massif and the Caramulo range, cut through by the gorge carved by the Vouga, which exploits natural fractures or cuts through rock on its way to the Beira-Mar.
• Vines develop along the Vouga Valley, occupying the terraced plots of small holdings that define the parcels, and are in some cases trained on overhead pergolas (ramadas).
• The region corresponds approximately to the municipalities of Oliveira de Frades, São Pedro do Sul, and Vouzela, and lies within the hydrographic basin of the River Vouga. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Despite the region's centuries-old winemaking tradition, the wines produced here only gained recognition in the early twentieth century, when their distinctive characteristics were first acknowledged.

• The white wines of this appellation are described as low in alcohol and highly fruited, rich in malic acidity, and sometimes displaying a slight spritz or light sparkle.
• The red wines show high fixed acidity and display considerable ageing potential.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the specification (caderno de especificações).

All appellations in Portugal

Sources

• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-PT-A1455
• Official trade body site — Comissão Vitivinícola Regional do Dão