The Demarcated Region of Bairrada is in Beira Litoral between Águeda and Coimbra and the dunes on the coastline.

Bairrada has a mild climate due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Even though wine making has existed in this region since the X century, it wasn’t until the XIX century that it became a producer of high quality white, red and sparkling wines.

In this plain land, there are two types of soils that result in diversified wines: the clayey soils, whose name in Portuguese “barro” gave the region its name and the sandy soils. Baga is the dominant vine variety of the region. It grows in the clayey soils and results in wines that are full of colour and very rich in tannins which gives them great longevity. Within the white varieties, that are grown in the sandy soils of this region, the most prominent varieties are Bical and Fernão Pires, from the region that is named Maria Gomes and that produces delicate and aromatic white wines.
The naturally sparkling wines of the region are commonly used to accompany the region cuisine such as the tradicional “Leitão da Bairrada”.

It was recently allowed for foreign varieties to be grown in the DOC region such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir that now share the land with the national varieties.

Alentejo is one of the largest wine-growing Portuguese regions, with about 22,000 hectares of vineyards. This region – made of large plains, with hot and dry climate – produces great wines with national and international recognition.

The area of Portalegre stands out in Alentejo region because it benefits from Serra de São Mamede influence. Here, vineyards are planted on the mountain steep and granitic slopes, enjoying a microclimate (the altitude makes the temperatures lower). Soils are very heterogeneous – composed of clay, granite, limestone or shale – but not very fertile. The region is divided into eight sub-regions of “Denominação de Origem Alentejana” (Denomination of Alentejo Origin): Reguengos, Borba, Redondo, Vidigueira, Évora, Granja-Amareleja, Portalegre and Moura. Alentejo has a great diversity of varieties, but the most important are Roupeiro, Antão Vaz and Arinto. Trincadeira, Aragonez, Castelão and Alicante Bouschet (a French variety adapted to the Alentejo’s terroir) are also very important red varieties. White Alentejo’ wines are usually smooth, slightly acidic, with tropical fruits aromas. Reds are full-bodied, tannin-rich, with wild and red fruits aromas.

“Vinho Verde” Demarcated Region occupies the entire northwest of Portugal, area traditionally known as entre-douro-e-minho.

The region it’s bordered, on the North, by the Minho River, which is also part of the border with Spain; on the south by the river Douro and the Freita, Arada, and Montemuro mountains; on to the East by the Peneda, Gerês, Cabreira and Marão mountains; and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the largest Portuguese Demarcated Region and one of the Europe largest. The region – with Atlantic influence, most soils of granite origin, mild climate, and high precipitation – has excellent conditions for white wines, sparkling wines, and spirits production. The wines produced where are fresh, smooth and elegant. The region was divided into nine sub-regions, according to its different soils and microclimates: Amarante, Ave, Baião, Basto, Cávado, Lima, Monção and Melgaço, Paiva, Sousa. Many of the grape varieties produced in the Vinho Verde Region are considered indigenous due to their long history in the region and because they appeared only in the Iberian Northwest. The main white varieties are Alvarinho, Arinto, Avesso, Azal, Loureiro, and Trajadura. The main region red varieties are Espadeiro, Badeiro, and Vinhão.

Bordered by Douro River, the Douro region produces wines – among which, the world-famous Port Wine – for more than 2,000 years.

With about 250,000 Ha, vineyards occupy near 18% of the region area. Surrounded by mountains, Douro has its own climatical characteristics. The soils are mainly composed by “Xisto-Grauváquico” although there are also granitic solos in some areas. This region soils are especially hard to work, not only because of their composition but also because of the steep terrain slope. However, these soils are good for the vine’s longevity, allowing musts with more concentration of sugar and color. The man transformed, with their work, the Douro hostile soils into vines, creating three distinct forms of planting: in the typical terraces (in Portuguese, “socalcos”), on levels and elevated. Terraces are common in steep slopes’ areas and resemble balconies divided by shale walls. The levels are also made creating balconies, but without walls to stop the lands. The elevated plantation contemplates the lands drainage and the necessary space for the machine’s intervention and circulation on the vineyards. The Douro vineyards range from the top of the deep valleys to the river bank, creating a unique landscape recognized by UNESCO, in 2001, as World Heritage. This splendid scenery combines with the excellence of the wines produced in the three Douro sub-regions: on the west “Baixo Corgo”, on the center “Cima Corgo” and on the east, the “Douro Superior”. The region climate – located in deep valleys, sheltered by mountains – is strongly influenced by Marão and Montemuro mountains, which protect the area from the west’ humid winds. The very cold winters and the very hot and dry summers are distinctive from this region. The Demarcated Region of Douro divides itself in the Low Corgo (on the west), Cima Corgo (on the center) and Upper Douro (on the east).

The Lisboa region – once known as “Estremadura” – has a long history in the Portuguese viticulture. In this region, we find, mainly, the Portuguese traditional grape varieties and the most well-known international varieties.

Lisboa region, with its variety of reliefs and microclimates gathered in small areas, produces a wide variety of wines. Located in the northwest of Lisbon, in an area of approximately 40 km, the region has a temperate climate, cool summers and mild winters, result of the Atlantic influence. The Region has nine Origin Denominations: Colares, Carcavelos and Bucelas (in the south area, near Lisbon), Alenquer, Arruda, Torres Vedras, Lourinhã and Óbidos (in the region’s center) and Encostas d’Aire (on the north, near to the Beiras region). The soil constitution is very diverse, varying from brown or red calcareous soils to fine sandstones ones. Vegetation in the region’s northern part is similar to the Central Europe ones, while at the southern end the vegetation has Mediterranean characteristics.