Wine production
had taken a back seat to tourism for decades as the Algarve catered
for the droves of holiday makers who flock to this beautiful region
every year.
But now as Sir Cliff Richard would attest, who has his own vineyard
here, wine making in the Algarve is stepping out of the shadows.
The Algarve is the only demarcated District in Portugal that does
not produce a variety of white wines along with its red wine.
The red wines tend to be full-bodied, a fruity rich flavour, low
acidity, and containing a high alcohol level.
Of late there has been a renewal of interest and several smaller
private vineyards have been created and are marketing their own
labels.
There has recently been a resurgence of interest in the smaller
privately owned vineyards to commercialise their production.
• Lagoa DOC
This region covers the municipalities of both Albufeira and Lagoa.
The soft sandy soil and warm climate provides a rich distinct flavour.
The red wines are ruby-coloured which develop with age and are easy to drink.
The white wine is soft and full-bodied. Both have high alcohol content.
• Lagos DOC
This region covers the municipalities of Aljezur, Lagos and Sagres.
The red wine is smooth and fruity with low acidity level.
The white wine is lemon-straw in colour and tends to be full-bodied.
• Portimão DOC
The red wine is light, smooth with low acidity and high alcohol content.
The white wine is straw-coloured with a soft and rich aromatic flavour.
• Tavira DOC
This region covers the municipalities of Castro Marim, Faro, Olhão, São Brás de
Alportel, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António.
The red wine is soft, pale-coloured and with a fruity aroma. The white wine is
straw-coloured, smooth and full-bodied.
• Vinho Regional (VR) Algarve
The Algarve region is more maverick than other of the Portuguese wine regions
and many of the new wine makers in the area turn their backs on the restraints
and regulations to achieve a DOC label.
Instead they favour the more flexible VR Algarve regulations which allow growers
to be more creative with grape blends than DOC.
Many also see the term "VR Algarve" more readily accessible and a stronger brand
for new potential customers.
Bual Branco Local name for Malvasia Fina.
Castelão Probably Portugal's most widely planted red variety, most dominant in
the south. It makes a firm, elegant raspberry fruity wines that evolve to a
cedary, cigar box character.
Manteudo A relatively neutral, high yielding white widely used in the Alentejo.
Negra Mole Better known on the island of Madeira, this grape produces very high
yields of sweet, pale red wine.
Roupeiro Southern synonym for Síria which, confusingly enough is know as Alva in
the north or Alentejo, as Côdega in the Douro where it's used in making white
Port and as Síria in the Beiras.
Best known for the honeyed whites it produces.