Touriga Cational
Touriga National is the signature grape of northern Portugal. The best wines of Douro, Dao or even the fortified wines from Porto are made with this grape variety.
The main wine regions of northern Portugal are:
✤ VINHO VERDE
✤ Douro
✤ Dão
✤ Bairrada
✤ Porto
THE STORY BEHIND VINHNO VERDE
Located in the northernmost part of the country, the Vinho verde region is the most humid of Portugal thanks to the influence of the Atlantic ocean.
Well known for its white wines, like the Rias Baixas region at the other side of the border, most of these wines have a slight sparkling sensation that enhances their freshness.
DO YOU KNOW DOURO?
The oldest demarcated wine region of Portugal, Douro is considered the birthplace of the modern Portuguese wine industry. Its narrow terraces or Socalcos have become an iconic image of Portuguese wine.
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Dão: the Burgundy of Portugal
80 km south of the Douro region, in the central Portuguese mountains, the Dâo region is well known for some of the Portuguese finest red wines.
Bairrada: The sparkling wine capital
This region, with a stronger Atlantic influence than Dão, is home of the Baga red grape variety, one of the most important of Portugal. The vast majority of sparkling wine produced in Portugal comes from this region.
Porto: History in a bottle
Porto wine and Portugal have become synonym in the minds of most consumers around the world.
Traditionally produced with grapes from the Douro region and transported to Porto city in barcos rabelos, a traditional boat, this fortified wine has conquered the palate of many throughout the centuries and it was one of the first international wines due to its capacity to be transported long distances by boat and still preserve all its qualities.
HEY THERE! I’M TOURIGA CATIONAL, WOULD YOU TO LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ME?
Bem-vindo a Porto! This coastal city on the river Douro is the hearth of the wine industry in the Iberian Peninsula. Port wine takes its name from here but the grapes are planted far inland, in an impressive complex system of terraces built on the steep slopes overlooking the Douro river. The main grape used for Porto, and the signature grape of Portugal, is Touriga Nacional, thus giving me my name. Traditionally wine was transported from there to Porto, where it ages, in oak barrels thanks to the use of vessels called barcos rabelos or rabelos boats.
As mouse and other rodents like to travel by boat, I always make sure that they stay away. The gentle rolling of the boat helps me to rest for a bit and I answer with a purr when boat drivers sit beside me and start petting me.
In the picture I’m wearing the traditional cape of the Coimbra university students and raise my cup of tawny with the city on the background, on board of my dear Rabelo boat. Did you know that Rabelo means little tail, because of the big paddle that they have behind?
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