Cova da Beira is a Portuguese wine

Portuguese wine

Portuguese wine is the result of traditions introduced to the region by ancient civilizations, such as the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, and mostly the Romans. Portugal started to export its wines to Rome during the Roman Empire. Modern exports developed with trade to England after the...

 region centered around the Cova da Beira

Cova da Beira

Cova da Beira is a NUTS3 subregion of Portugal integrated in the NUTS2 Centro region. It lies in the fertile valley between the Serra da Estrela and Gardunha mountains. It covers an area of 1,373 km², with a population of 92,460 inhabitants for a density of 67 hab/km². The major cities are Covilhã ...

 region between the Dão and Vinho Verde DOCs in the wider Beiras VR

Beiras VR

Beiras is a Portuguese wine region covering the same areas as its namesake region. The region is classified as a Vinho Regional , a designation similar to a French vin de pays region...

 wine region. Cova da Beira was initially a separate Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada (IPR) region (and was the largest IPR in Portugal in terms of land planted with vines), but in 2005, it became one of three subregions of the Beira Interior DOC

Beira Interior DOC

Beira Interior is a Portuguese wine Denominação de Origem Controlada located in central Portugal in the Beiras VR wine region. It was created in 2005 when three Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada regions were put together into one DOC....

, which has the higher Denominação de Origem Controlada

Denominação de Origem Controlada

The Denominação de Origem Controlada is the system of protected designation of origin for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products from Portugal.-Wines:...

(DOC) status. Its name may still be indicated together with that of Beira Interior, as Beira Interior-Cova da Beira.

Cova da Beira produces a broad range of wines similar to those found through the Beiras wine region but is primarily known for its light bodied red wines.

Grapes

The principle grapes of the Cova da Beira region include Arinto

Arinto

Arinto or Arinto de Bucelas is a white Portuguese wine grape planted primarily in the Bucelas, Tejo and Vinho Verde regions. It can produce high acid wines with lemon notes.-Synonyms:...

, Assario Branco, Jaen, Marufo, Periquita

Periquita

Periquita , also known as Castelão and João de Santarém, is a red wine grape found primarily in the south coastal regions but is grown all over Portugal and is sometimes used in Port wine production. The name is derived from the Portuguese term for parakeet. The vine thrives in sandy soils but is...

, Perola

Pérola

Pérola is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...

, Rabo de Ovelha

Rabo de Ovelha

Rabo de Ovelha is white Portuguese wine grape variety that is grown all over Portugal. It should not be confused with the red Rabo de Anho grape variety that is found in the Vinho Verde region. Rabo de Ovelha is an authorized grape variety in the Bairrada, Borba, Bucelas, Redondo, Reguengos,...

, Rufete and Tinta Amarela

Tinta Amarela

Tinta Amarela is a red wine grape that is commonly used in Port wine production. The grape is noted for its dark coloring. Its use in the Douro region has been increasing in recent years. The vine is susceptible to rot and performs better in dry, hot climates....

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