Terras da Beira
Terroir
Natural factors
- Vineyards planted between 300 and 750 m: the IG Terras da Beira is the highest wine-growing region in Portugal.
- Orography dominated by the Serra da Estrela, Gardunha, Açor, Marofa, and Malcata ranges, imposing a mountain viticulture model.
- Soils are predominantly granitic, with the remainder of xistosa origin, and quartz veins marking the transition between the two.
- Harsh climate: annual rainfall of 400–700 mm/m², concentrated in winter and spring; July–August receives below 10 mm/m².
- Bipartite hydrography: the Côa and Águeda basins to the north; the Zêzere and Upper Tagus basins to the south.
Human factors
- Winemaking in the region dates to 25 BC (Roman Lusitania), with lagaretas carved into granito as material evidence.
- Viticulture developed significantly from the 12th century onwards through the monks of the Convento de Santa Maria de Aguiar, in Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo.
Product characteristics
- Full-bodied, fresh, and acidic reds with red-fruit aromas and mineral notes; fresh and aromatic whites with marked acidity.
- Sparkling wines with fine, persistent bubbles, fruity and lively; a freshness common to all styles, attributed to the wide diurnal temperature ranges.
Terroir / wine link
- Granitic soils impart a distinctive minerality; mountain altitudes and high diurnal temperature ranges promote slow ripening, preserved acidity, and a complex aromatic profile.
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 PGI-PT-02355
- Official trade body site — Comissão Vitivinícola Regional da Beira Interior