Portuguese Wine Grape Vocabulary

Welcome to part one of Catavino’s Portuguese wine vocabulary. I started this quite awhile ago, but delayed publishing the article until it was perfect. I also wanted it searchable and a little more ordered, delaying it even further. But the time has come to finally present the first part of the Portuguese Grape Varietals. Below is the first installment in Portuguese pronunciation for wine terms: Grapes! I have tried to cover most grapes found in Portugal from the quirky to the common place. The voice is someone native to Lisbon, Portugal, a friend of a friend, who was happy to offer the correct pronunciation of the grapes. I also know there are probably a few “accent” typos due to the heavy use of accents in the Portuguese language, so if you find one, please let me know and I’ll get it fixed. I want to say I do have Regions, Wine terms, and styles also in the works, though I’m not sure when I’ll get to them.

Till soon, Ryan Opaz

• Alfrocheiro – Grape used in the Alentejo, Bairrada, Ribatejo, and Dão to add color to their wines.
  
• Alvarinho – Portuguese name for Albarino of Spain. Found in Vinho Verde.
  
• Aragonéz – Synonym for Tempranillo, used mainly in the Alentejo.
  
• Arinto – This grape produces high acid white wine, found in the wines of the Ribatejo, also found in Vinho Verde under the name – Padernã
  
• Assario Branco – Thought to be Spain’s famous Palomino grape of Sherry fame. Grown mainly in the Dão region
  
• Avesso – White grape used in Vinho Verde wines, also known as Jaén Blanco
  
• Azal – Grape found in both a Tinto and a Branco version, used mainly to bring acidity up in Vinho Verde’s
  
• Baga Trincadeira – The main grape of the Barriada region of Portugal. Also grown in the Dão and Ribatejo regions. Known for its high acidity and tannins, it can produce wines capable of aging well.
  
• Barcelo – This grape produces white wines that are fairly robust, fruity with a hint of lemon. The rosé ranges in color and are fresh and fruity. Sparkling wines are produced in white and rosé and range from “Brut” to “Medium Dry”.
  
• Bastardo – A grape used in the production of Port wine, prized for its high sugar levels. It is also being experimented with on a small scale to make table wines.
  
• Boal – Name given to many different Portuguese grapes. On the island of Madeira it goes by Bual and is used in the wines of that region.
  
• Borrado das Moscas – In the Dão region, this white grape is known as Bical. It has good acidity and is used in both table and sparkling wines. Less appealing is the wine’s literal meaning, “Fly droppings”.
  
• Branco – White-Vinho Branco=White wine
  
• Cerceal – This grape is also known as Sercial when found in Madeira. It produces the heavy whites of the Dão. Due to high acidity it too has a less then appealing nickname, “Esgana Cão” or “dog strangler”.
  
• Espadeiro – This red grape found in the Vinho Verde region along with areas of the Riaxs Biaxas in Spain. It tends to have high production levels with low sugar levels.
  
• Fernão Pires – A white grape variety found in the Ribatejo, where it can produce nice oak aged and botrytized wines. Also known as Maria Gomes where it is found widely planted in the Bairrada region.
  
• Loureiro – Some say laurel scented, this white grape can be found of both sides of the northern border of Spain and Portugal.
  
• Malvasia – Widely used name for a variety of grapes grown throughout Europe. In Spain, it can be found in Buçaco and Colares
  
• Moreto – Undistinguished red grape mainly planted in the Alentejo.
  
• Mortágua – Also known as Castelao Frances, it is widely planted throughout Portugal and goes by myriad aliases. Versatile red grape that can produce interesting wines with a trademark gamy character.
  
• Moscatel de Setúbal – Portuguese name for Muscat. Used mainly for the sweet wines of Setubal though can produce nice dry versions. Very fragrant and can be found with skin color of gold to rose, to black. Very versatile and grown widely throughout the world.
  
• Mourisco Tinto – One of the lesser port wine grape varieties, known for making palish tart table wines when left alone.
  
• Paderná – See Arinto
  
• Periquita – Portuguese word for Parakeet, this is a synonym for the grape Mortágua
  
• Ramisco – Red grape variety from the Colares region where due to sandy soils it does not need to be grafted to prevent Phylloxera damage.
  
• Rosado – A rosé wine
  
• Rufete – Early ripening red grape vine used in port production. In Spain this vine is making some interesting wines in near Salamanca.
  
• Séco – Dry as in Vinho Séco = Dry Wine
  
• Tinta Amarela – Red grape varietal used in Port wine production, though vines are also found in the Dão.
  
• Tinta Roriz – One of the many Portuguese names for the Spanish grape Tempranillo.
  
• Tinto – Red when Talking about Vinho Tinto=Red Wine
  
• Tinto Barroca – Strong and resilient port grape that does well in the Duoro and can withstand if not flourish in drought like conditions.