Portuguese wine
Portuguese wine was mostly introduced by the Romans and other ancient Mediterranean peoples who traded with local coastal populations, mainly in the South. In pre-Roman Gallaecia-Lusitania times, the native peoples only drank beer and were unfami ...
regions are grouped into three levels of classification. At the top are the '' Denominação de Origem Controlada'' (or DOCs) which are
Quality Wines Produced in Specified Regions
Quality wines produced in specified regions (often abbreviated to quality wines psr, QWpsr or simply "quality wines") is a quality indicator used within European Union wine regulations. The QWpsr category identifies wines with protected geograph ...
(QWpsr) under the
European Union wine regulations
European Union wine regulations are common legislation related to wine existing within the European Union (EU),French ''
Appellation d'origine contrôlée
An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication primarily used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown, although other types of food often have appellations as well. Restrictions other than geographical bou ...
'' (AOC) and
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
'' Denominación de Origen'' (DO) classifications. The second group consist of '' Indicação de Proveniência Regulamentada'' (IPRs), and are also QWpsr. IPRs are used for DOC candidates "in training", and this level roughly corresponds to the French ''
Vin Délimité de Qualité Superieure
Vin or VIN may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Vîn TV, a Kurdish language satellite television channel founded in 2007
* '' Vos Iz Neias?'', an American Jewish online news site
* Coastal radio station VIN Geraldton (callsign), a sta ...
'' (VDQS) system. The final group are the Vinho Regional (VRs), which are
table wine
Table wine (rarely abbreviated TW) is a wine term with two different meanings: a style of wine and a quality level within wine classification.
In the United States, the term primarily designates a wine style: an ordinary wine which is not fortifi ...
s with a geographical indication under EU regulations. VRs each cover a larger area and are similar to the French ''
Vin de pays
''Vin de pays'' (, "country wine") was a French wine classification that was above the '' vin de table'' classification, but below the ''appellation d'origine contrôlée'' (AOC) classification and below the former ''vin délimité de qualité s ...
'' at regional/departmental level.T. Stevenson ''"The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia"'' pg 329-333 Dorling Kindersley 2005
The early 2000s has seen many changes in the classification and naming of Portuguese wine regions. Many previous IPRs have been elevated to DOC status, either on their own or to create a new, larger DOC from either IPRs or a mixture or smaller DOCs and IPRs. At the same time, the name of some VRs have been modified to allow them to be differentiated from some newly created DOCs which have taken over names of former VRs.
As of 2009, there were 26 DOCs for wine (not counting special designations and subregions), 4 IPRs and 11 VRs.ViniPortugal: Wine Regions accessed on January 25, 2010
Évora
Évora ( , ) is a city and a municipality in Portugal. It has 53,591 inhabitants (2021), in an area of 1307.08 km2. It is the historic capital of the Alentejo and serves as the seat of the Évora District.
Due to its well-preserved old ...
Vidigueira
Vidigueira ( or ) is a town and a List of municipalities of Portugal, municipality in the District of Beja (Portugal), District of Beja in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 5,932, in an area of 316.61 km2.
The present Mayor is Manuel Rosa ...
.
*
Arruda DOC Arruda is a Portuguese wine region centered on the town of Arruda dos Vinhos in the Lisboa wine region. The region is designated as '' Denominação de Origem Controlada'' (DOC)Bairrada DOC
Bairrada is a Portuguese wine region located in the Beira Litoral Province. The region has Portugal's highest wine classification as a '' Denominação de Origem Controlada'' (DOC), and its popularity has surged over the last years. It is small ...
*
Beira Interior DOC Beira Interior is a Portuguese wine '' Denominação de Origem Controlada'' (DOC) located in central Portugal in the Beiras VR wine region. It was created in 2005 when three '' Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada'' (IPR) regions were put tog ...
Pinhel
Pinhel () is a concelho, municipality, former Catholic bishopric and present Latin titular see in the Centro, Portugal, central subregion of Beira Interior Norte, in Portugal. The municipality population in 2011 was 9,627, in an area of 484.52&nbs ...
.
*
Bucelas DOC
Bucelas (historically known as ''Bucellas'') is a Portuguese wine-region located in the Lisboa wine-region. The region has Portugal's highest wine classification as a '' Denominação de Origem Controlada'' (DOC). Located south of the Arruda DOC, ...
Colares DOC
Colares is a Portuguese wine region centred on the Colares parish in the municipality of Sintra. The region has Portugal's highest wine classification of '' Denominação de Origem Controlada'' (DOC). Located along the southwestern Atlantic coast, ...
*
Dão DOC
Dão is a Portuguese wine region situated in the Região Demarcada do Dão with the Dão-Lafões sub region of the Centro, Portugal. It is one of the oldest established wine regions in Portugal. Dão wine is produced in a mountainous region with a ...
, with the seven subregions Alva, Besteiros, Castendo, Serra da Estrela, Silgueiros, Terras de Azurara, and Terras de Senhorim, and the special designation Dão Nobre.
*
Douro DOC
Douro is a Portuguese wine region centered on the Douro River in the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro region. It is sometimes referred to as the ''Alto Douro'' (upper Douro), as it is located some distance upstream from Porto, sheltered by mountain r ...
, with the three subregions Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo, and Douro Superior, and the special designation Moscatel do Douro.
*
Encostas d'Aire DOC
Encostas d'Aire is a Portuguese wine region located on the limestone hills extending across the northern end of the wider Lisboa wine region into the southwestern corner of the Beiras region. The region was initially an '' Indicação de Provenie ...
Óbidos DOC
Óbidos is a Portuguese wine region centered on the town of Óbidos in the Lisboa region. The region is designated as '' Denominação de Origem Controlada'' (DOC)Palmela DOC
* Porto DOC
* Portimão DOC
*
Tejo DOC
Tejo, until 2009 named Ribatejo, is a Portuguese wine region covering the same areas as the Ribatejo Province. It takes its name from the river Tejo (Tagus). The entire region is entitled to use the '' Vinho Regional'' designation Tejo VR, while so ...
, with the six subregions
Almeirim
Almeirim () is a city and a municipality in Santarém District, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 23,376, in an area of 222.12 km². The city proper had a population of 10,520 in 2001.
History
There are vestiges of mid-Paleolithic to Meso ...
,
Cartaxo
Cartaxo () is a municipality in the district of Santarém in continental Portugal. The population in 2011 was 24,462, in an area of 158.17 km². The urbanized centre of Cartaxo had a population of 9,507 in 2001.
History
In written and ora ...
Coruche
Coruche () is a municipality in Santarém District in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 19,944, in an area of 1115.72 km².
The present Mayor is Francisco Silvestre de Oliveira, elected by the Socialist Party.
The Coruche City Council ha ...
Tomar
Tomar (), also known in English as Thomar (the ancient name of Tomar), is a city and a municipality in the Santarém district of Portugal. The town proper has a population of about 20,000. The municipality population in 2011 was 40,677, in an a ...
. (until 2009 known as Ribatejo DOC)
*
Setúbal DOC
Moscatel de Setúbal is a Portuguese muscatel produced around the Setúbal Municipality on the Península de Setúbal. The region is known primarily for its fortified Muscat wines known as Moscatel de Setúbal. The style was believed to have b ...
with the special designations
Moscatel de Setúbal
Muscatel ( ) is a type of wine made from muscat grapes. The term is now normally used in the United States to refer to a fortified wine made from these grapes rather than just any wine made from these grapes. This fortified muscatel became pop ...
Távora-Varosa DOC
Távora-Varosa is a Portuguese wine region located in the northwestern section of the Beiras region. The region is designated as '' Denominação de Origem Controlada'' (DOC) after it was promoted from its former '' Indicação de Proveniencia Reg ...
*
Torres Vedras DOC Torres Vedras is a Portuguese wine region centered on the town of Torres Vedras in the Lisboa wine region. The region is designated as '' Denominação de Origem Controlada'' (DOC)Trás-os-Montes DOC, with the three subregions Chaves, Planalto Mirandês, and
Valpaços
Valpaços () is a municipality in northern Portugal. The population in 2011 was 16,882, in an area of 548.74 km2.
History
The first documents that cite Valpaços date back to the 12th century. Its toponymy evolved from pre-national settlem ...
.
* Vinho Verde DOC, with the nine subregions Amarante, Ave, Baião, Basto, Cávado, Lima, Monção e Melgaço, Paiva, and Sousa, and the two special designations Vinho Verde Alvarinho and Vinho Verde Alvarinho Espumante.
Redondo DOC Redondo is a Portuguese wine region centered on the Redondo municipality in the Alentejo region. The region was initially an '' Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada'' (IPR) region, then elevated to '' Denominação de Origem Controlada'' (DOC) ...
Reguengos DOC Reguengos is a Portuguese wine region centered on the Reguengos de Monsaraz municipality in the Alentejo region. The region was initially an '' Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada'' (IPR) region, then elevated to '' Denominação de Origem Co ...
Vidigueira DOC Vidigueira () is a Portuguese wine region centered on the Vidigueira municipality in the Alentejo region. The region was initially an '' Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada'' (IPR) region, then elevated to '' Denominação de Origem Controla ...
Biscoitos IPR Biscoitos is a Portuguese wine region located on the Terceira island of the Azores. The region has the second tier '' Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada'' (IPR) classification and maybe some day promoted to Denominação de Origem Controlada ...
*
Graciosa IPR
Graciosa is a Portuguese wine region centered on the island of Graciosa in the Azores. The region has the second tier '' Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada'' (IPR) classification and may some day be promoted to '' Denominação de Origem Con ...
Pico IPR
The Pico IPR is a Portuguese wine region located on the island of Pico in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The region is designated a second-tier '' Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada'' (IPR) classification, and potentially may be r ...
Former IPRs
While many former IPRs have been elevated to DOC status under the same name, some have instead been absorbed into larger DOCs:
*
Alcobaça IPR Alcobaça may refer to: In Brazil
* Alcobaça, Bahia In Portugal
* Alcobaça, Portugal
** Alcobaça Municipality
** Alcobaça Monastery
** Alcobaça wine
Alcobaça is a Portuguese wine region centered on the town of Alcobaça in the Estremadura ...
, a subregion within
Encostas d'Aire DOC
Encostas d'Aire is a Portuguese wine region located on the limestone hills extending across the northern end of the wider Lisboa wine region into the southwestern corner of the Beiras region. The region was initially an '' Indicação de Provenie ...
Cartaxo IPR Cartaxo is a Portuguese wine region centered on the town of Cartaxo and overlapping the Estremadura and Ribatejo VR regions. The region was initially a separate '' Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada'' (IPR) region, but in 2003, it became on ...
Castelo Rodrigo IPR Castelo Rodrigo () is a Portuguese wine region centered on the town of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo in the wider Beiras wine region south of the Douro river. Castelo Rodrigo was initially a separate '' Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada'' (IP ...
, a subregion within
Beira Interior DOC Beira Interior is a Portuguese wine '' Denominação de Origem Controlada'' (DOC) located in central Portugal in the Beiras VR wine region. It was created in 2005 when three '' Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada'' (IPR) regions were put tog ...
Coruche IPR
Coruche is a Portuguese wine region encompassing the town of Coruche in the Ribatejo region. The region was initially a separate '' Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada'' (IPR) region, but in 2003, it became one of six subregions of the Ribat ...
Beira Interior DOC Beira Interior is a Portuguese wine '' Denominação de Origem Controlada'' (DOC) located in central Portugal in the Beiras VR wine region. It was created in 2005 when three '' Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada'' (IPR) regions were put tog ...
Távora-Varosa DOC
Távora-Varosa is a Portuguese wine region located in the northwestern section of the Beiras region. The region is designated as '' Denominação de Origem Controlada'' (DOC) after it was promoted from its former '' Indicação de Proveniencia Reg ...
Beira Interior DOC Beira Interior is a Portuguese wine '' Denominação de Origem Controlada'' (DOC) located in central Portugal in the Beiras VR wine region. It was created in 2005 when three '' Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada'' (IPR) regions were put tog ...
Valpaços IPR
Valpaços () is a municipality in northern Portugal. The population in 2011 was 16,882, in an area of 548.74 km2.
History
The first documents that cite Valpaços date back to the 12th century. Its toponymy evolved from pre-national settlem ...
Távora-Varosa DOC
Távora-Varosa is a Portuguese wine region located in the northwestern section of the Beiras region. The region is designated as '' Denominação de Origem Controlada'' (DOC) after it was promoted from its former '' Indicação de Proveniencia Reg ...
.
Vinhos Regionais
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Açores VR
The Açores VR ( pt, Açores Vinho Regional) is a Portuguese wine region located in the archipelago of the Azores. This region is classified as a '' Vinho Regional'' (VR), which corresponds to table wines with a geographical indication under Europe ...
Beiras VR
Beiras is a Portuguese wine region producing wines with the classification '' Denominação de Origem Controlada''. Located in the northern regions of Portugal, the Beiras region produces a wide range of wines, including sparkling and fortified w ...
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Duriense VR
Duriense is a Portuguese wine region covering the same area as the Douro DOC and the Port wine region.Lisboa VR
Lisboa, until 2009 named Estremadura, is a Portuguese wine region covering the same areas as the Estremadura region, and taking its name from the country's capital. The region is classified as a '' Vinho Regional'' (VR), a designation similar to ...
(until 2009 known as Estremadura VR)
*
Minho VR
Minho, formerly Rios do Minho, is a Portuguese wine region covering the same areas as the Vinho Verde DOC.
(previously Rios do Minho VR)
*
Tejo VR
Tejo, until 2009 named Ribatejo, is a Portuguese wine region covering the same areas as the Ribatejo Province. It takes its name from the river Tejo (Tagus). The entire region is entitled to use the '' Vinho Regional'' designation Tejo VR, while so ...
History of Portuguese wine
The history of Portuguese wine has been influenced by Portugal's relative isolationism in the world's wine market, with the one notable exception of its relationship with the British.J. Robinson (ed) ''"The Oxford Companion to Wine"'' Third Editi ...