Porto
Styles
Principal grape varieties
BarcaPatorraViosinhoVitalPetit Bouschet (Bouschet Petit)Sevilhao (Corbeau)SercialPinheira Branca (Jampal)BicalNevoeiraSiriaBarretoBastardo (Trousseau Noir)SémillonBatocaCornifestoBranco GuimaraesBranco Especial (Madeleine Royale)Bragao (Barreto)Malvasia PardaMalvasia PretaMalvasia Rei (Palomino Fino)TamarezMalvasia FinaRatinhoMarufoMelraVerdelho (Verdelho Branco)Caramela (Luglienga Bianca)MalandraArintoRabigato MorenoRabigatoRabo De OvelhaVerdial Branco (Alva Verdial)FolgasaoTrincadeiraSarigo (Cayetana Blanca)Carrega BrancoCarignanFernao PiresCarrega TintoVarejoaCercialCastelaoSantareno (Etraire De La Dui)AramonCastelaAragonez (Tempranillo Tinto)SamarrinhoCasculhoTinto Sem NomeGrangealAlicante Bouschet (Alicante Henri Bouschet)Grand NoirTinta MesquitaS. Saul (Cinsaut)Tinta MartinsTinta Lameira (Parraleta)Côdega Do LarinhoGouveio RealGouveio EstimadoTinto CaoCidadelheTinta Penajoia (Peloursin Noir)Tinta Tabuaço (Tinta De Tabuaco)Tinta PomarTinta PereiraChasselasAlvarelhao BrancoConcieiraGouveioJampalTouriga Branca (Branco Gouvaes)Touriga FêmeaAlvarelhao CeitaoTouriga FrancaTouriga NacionalTinta AguiarAlvarelhaoTinta FranciscaTinta FontesTinta CarvalhaRufeteValdosaValente (Heunisch Weiss)Tinta Bastardinha (Alfrocheiro)Tinta BarrocaJaen (Mencia)RoseiraGonçalo PiresMourisco De TrevoesMourisco (Marufo)LourelaPortugues Azul (Portugieser Blau)Donzelinho TintoDonzelinho BrancoAvessoSousao (Vinhao)BagaDiagalves (Montua)Estreito MacioEspadeiroMondet (Durif)EngomadaMourisco De SementeMourisco Branco (Cayetana Blanca)MoretoPreto MartinhoMoscadet (Meslier Saint Francois)Moscatel Galego BrancoPraça
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
- The appellation extends across a total area of 250,000 hectares, divided into three naturally distinct sub-regions: Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo, and Douro Superior.
- The Porto appellation is located in the northeast of Portugal, in the Douro river basin, surrounded by mountains that impart particular mesological and climatic characteristics.
- Viticulture is carried out under especially harsh climatic conditions, on stony soils with no alternative use, requiring the terracing of the land on the steepest slopes.
- The Marão and Montemuro mountain ranges exert a major influence on the Porto appellation, acting as a barrier against the penetration of moist westerly winds, and the appellation is characterised by large annual temperature ranges.
- The north bank of the river is under the influence of dry southerly winds, while the south bank is exposed to cooler, more humid northerly winds and to lower levels of sunshine, with mean annual temperatures ranging from 11.8 °C to 16.5 °C.
Human factors
- Following traditional foot-treading in stone lagares without mechanical crushing, the majority of wines are today produced at wineries equipped with fully mechanised crushing and maceration.
Product characteristics
- The wines display a broad spectrum of colours: among reds, distinctions are drawn between retinto, tinto, tinto alourado, alourado, and alourado claro, alongside rosés and whites classified as pálido, palha, and dourado.
- Porto is distinguished by an incomparable richness and intensity of aroma, a high persistence of aroma and flavour, and an alcoholic strength of between 19 and 22% vol., except in the light dry white style.
Terroir / wine link
- The grape varieties authorised for the production of Porto constitute a defining element of its qualitative characteristics, particularly its aromatic ones, and are an expression of the terroir of the Douro demarcated region.
Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the specification (caderno de especificações).
About this boundary · approximate area
Approximate area — the union of the administrative units named in the document (Eurostat GISCO or national cadastre boundaries).
Locality(ies) with no polygon of their own, drawn as the administrative unit that holds them: Armamar → Armamar (Armamar, Coura, Tões); Noura → União das freguesias de Noura e Palheiros; Vilarouco → União das freguesias de Vilarouco e Pereiros; Granjinha → União das freguesias de Paradela e Granjinha; Beira Grande, Lavandeira → União das freguesias de Lavandeira, Beira Grande e Selores; Adeganha → União das freguesias de Adeganha e Cardanha; Vila Flor → União das freguesias de Vila Flor e Nabo; Fontelonga, Meda → Mêda, Outeiro de Gatos e Fonte Longa.
Administrative unit(s) the document includes only in part, drawn whole: Nossa Senhora da Conceição (Vila Real); Várzea de Abrunhais (Lamego); Frechas, Avantos, Romeu, Carvalhais (Mirandela); Vilas Boas (Vila Flor).
Sub-regiões
- Baixo Corgo DOC (PDO)
- Cima Corgo DOC (PDO)
- Douro Superior DOC (PDO)
Sources
- eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-PT-A1540
- Official trade body site — Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto
Open Wine Map