List of Portuguese wine regions
Encyclopedia
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...
regions are grouped into three levels of classification. At the top are the 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:...
(or DOCs) which are Quality Wines Produced in Specified Regions
Quality Wines Produced in Specified Regions
Quality Wines Produced in Specified Regions is a quality indicator used within European Union wine regulations. The QWpsr category identifies wines with protected geographical indications...
(QWpsr) under the European Union wine regulations
European Union wine regulations
European Union wine regulations are common legislation related to wine existing within the European Union , the member states of which account for almost two-thirds of the world's wine production...
and thus correspond roughly to the French
French wine
French wine is produced in several regions throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France has the world's second-largest total vineyard area, behind Spain, and is in the position of being the world's largest wine producer...
Appellation d'origine contrôlée
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
(AOC) and Spanish
Spanish wine
Spanish wines are wines produced in the southwestern European country of Spain. Located on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain has over 2.9 million acres planted—making it the most widely planted wine producing nation but it is the third largest producer of wine in the world, the largest...
Denominación de Origen
Denominación de Origen
Denominación de Origen is part of a regulatory classification system primarily for Spanish wines but also for other foodstuffs like honey, meats and condiments. In wines it parallels the hierarchical system of France and Italy although Rioja and Sherry preceded the full system...
(DO) classifications. The second group consist of Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada (IPRs), and are also QWpsr. IPRs are used for DOC candidates "in training", and this level roughly corresponds to the French Vin Délimité de Qualité Superieure (VDQS) system. The final group are the Vinho Regional (VRs), which are table wine
Table wine
Table wine is a wine term with two different meanings: a wine style; and a quality level within wine classification.In the United States, table wine primarily designates a wine style - ordinary wine which is neither fortified nor sparkling....
s with a geographical indication under EU regulations. VRs each cover a larger area and are similar to the French Vin de pays
Vin de pays
Vin de pays is a French term meaning "country wine". Vins de pays are a step in the French wine classification which is above the table wine classification, but below the VDQS and Appellation d'origine contrôlée classifications...
at regional/departmental level.
The early 2000s has seen many changes in the classification and naming of Portuguese wine regions. Many previous IPRs have been elevated to DOC status, either on their own or to create a new, larger DOC from either IPRs or a mixture or smaller DOCs and IPRs. At the same time, the name of some VRs have been modified to allow them to be differentiated from some newly created DOCs which have taken over names of former VRs.
As of 2009, there were 26 DOCs for wine (not counting special designations and subregions), 4 IPRs and 11 VRs.
Denominação de Origem Controlada
- Alenquer DOC
- Alentejo DOC, with the eight subregions Borba, Evora, Granja-Amareleja, Moura, Portalegre, Redondo, Reguengos, and VidigueiraVidigueira DOCVidigueira is a Portuguese wine region centered around the Vidigueira municipality in the Alentejo region. The region was initially an Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, then elevated to Denominação de Origem Controlada status. In 2003, it became one of eight subregions of the...
. - Arruda DOC
- Bairrada DOC
- Beira Interior DOCBeira Interior DOCBeira 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....
, with the three subregions Castelo Rodrigo, Cova da Beira, and Pinhel. - Bucelas DOCBucelas DOCBucelas is a Portuguese wine region located in the Lisboa wine region. The region has Portugal's highest wine classification as a Denominação de Origem Controlada . Located south of the Arruda DOC, the region is noted for its potential for cool fermentation white wine production. Vineyards in the...
- Carcavelos DOCCarcavelos DOCCarcavelos is a Portuguese wine region centered around the Carcavelos municipality in Estremadura region and includes land near the cities of Cascais and Oeiras. The region has Portugal's highest wine classification as a Denominação de Origem Controlada...
- Colares DOCColares DOCColares is a Portuguese wine region centered around the Colares municipality in Estremadura region. The region has Portugal's highest wine classification as a Denominação de Origem Controlada . Located along the southwestern Atlantic coast, vineyards in the area are protected from the strong ocean...
- Dão DOC, with the seven subregions Alva, Besteiros, Castendo, Serra da Estrela, Silgueiros, Terras de Azurara, and Terras de Senhorim, and the special designation Dão Nobre.
- Douro DOC, with the three subregions Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo, and Douro Superior, and the special designation Moscatel do Douro.
- Encostas d'Aire DOC, with the two subregions Alcobaça and Ourém.
- Lagoa DOCLagoa DOCLagoa is a Portuguese wine region centered around the Lagoa municipality in the Algarve region. The region has Portugal's highest wine classification as a Denominação de Origem Controlada . The region is bordered to the west by the Portimão DOC and to the east by Tavira DOC...
- Lagos DOCLagos DOCLagos is a Portuguese wine region centered around the Lagos municipality in the Algarve region. The region has Portugal's highest wine classification as a Denominação de Origem Controlada...
- Madeira DOC
- Madeirense DOC
- Óbidos DOC
- Palmela DOCPalmela DOCPalmela is a Portuguese wine region centered around the town of Palmela in the Setúbal Peninsula subregion. The wine region has the Denominação de Origem Controlada status after having been elevated from its former Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada status...
- Porto DOCPort winePort wine is a Portuguese fortified wine produced exclusively in the Douro Valley in the northern provinces of Portugal. It is typically a sweet, red wine, often served as a dessert wine, and comes in dry, semi-dry, and white varieties...
- Portimão DOCPortimão DOCPortimão is a Portuguese wine region centered around the Portimão municipality in the Algarve region. The region has Portugal's highest wine classification as a Denominação de Origem Controlada . The region is bordered by the Lagoa DOC to the east and the Lagos DOC to the west.-Grapes:The principal...
- Tejo DOC, with the six subregions Almeirim, Cartaxo, Chamusca, Coruche, Santarém, and Tomar. (until 2009 known as Ribatejo DOC)
- Setúbal DOCSetúbal DOCMoscatel de Setúbal is a Portuguese wine produced around the Setúbal Municipality on the Península de Setúbal. The region is known primarily for its fortified Muscat wines known as Moscatel de Setúbal. The style was believed to have been invented by José Maria da Fonseca, the founder of José Maria...
with the special designations Moscatel de Setúbal and Setúbal Roxo. - Tavira DOCTavira DOCTavira is a Portuguese wine region centered around the Tavira Municipality in the Algarve region. The region has Portugal's highest wine classification as a Denominação de Origem Controlada . Extending to the Spanish border, the region is flanked on the west by the Lagoa DOC.-Grapes:The principle...
- Távora-Varosa DOCTávora-Varosa DOCTávora-Varosa is a Portuguese wine region located in the northwestern section of the Beiras region. The region is designated as Denominação de Origem Controlada after it was promoted from its former Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada status, when it was called Varosa IPR...
- Torres Vedras DOC
- Trás-os-Montes DOC, with the three subregions Chaves, Planalto Mirandês, and Valpaços.
- Vinho Verde DOC, with the nine subregions Amarante, Ave, Baião, Basto, Cávado, Lima, Monção e Melgaço, Paiva, and Sousa, and the two special designations Vinho Verde Alvarinho and Vinho Verde Alvarinho Espumante.
Former DOCs
Some former separate DOCs have been absorbed into larger DOCs:- Borba DOCBorba DOCBorba is a Portuguese wine region centered around the Borba Municipality in the Alentejo region. The region was initially an Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, then elevated to Denominação de Origem Controlada status. In 2003, it became one of eight subregions of the Alentejo DOC...
, a subregion within Alentejo DOC since 2003. - Portalegre DOCPortalegre DOCPortalegre is a Portuguese wine region centered around the Portalegre municipality in the Alentejo wine region. The region was initially an Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, then elevated to Denominação de Origem Controlada status. In 2003, it became one of eight subregions of the...
, a subregion within Alentejo DOC since 2003. - Redondo DOCRedondo DOCRedondo is a Portuguese wine region centered around the Redondo municipality in the Alentejo region. The region was initially an Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, then elevated to Denominação de Origem Controlada status. In 2003, it became one of eight subregions of the Alentejo DOC...
, a subregion within Alentejo DOC since 2003. - Reguengos DOCReguengos DOCReguengos is a Portuguese wine region centered around the Reguengos de Monsaraz municipality in the Alentejo region. The region was initially an Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, then elevated to Denominação de Origem Controlada status. In 2003, it became one of eight subregions of...
, a subregion within Alentejo DOC since 2003. - Vidigueira DOCVidigueira DOCVidigueira is a Portuguese wine region centered around the Vidigueira municipality in the Alentejo region. The region was initially an Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, then elevated to Denominação de Origem Controlada status. In 2003, it became one of eight subregions of the...
, a subregion within Alentejo DOC since 2003.
Indicação de Proveniência Regulamentada
- Biscoitos IPRBiscoitos IPRBiscoitos is a Portuguese wine region located on the Terceira island of the Azores. The region has the second tier Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada classification and maybe some day promoted to Denominação de Origem Controlada...
- Graciosa IPRGraciosa IPRGraciosa is a Portuguese wine region centered around the island of Graciosa in the Azores. The region has the second tier Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada classification and may some day be promoted to Denominação de Origem Controlada...
- Lafões IPRLafões IPRLafões is a Portuguese wine region, near Viséu, overlapping into the Dão and Vinho Verde DOCs. The region has the second tier Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada classification and may some day be promoted to Denominação de Origem Controlada...
- Pico IPRPico IPRPico is a Portuguese wine region located on Pico Island of the Azores. The region has the second tier Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada classification and maybe some day promoted to Denominação de Origem Controlada...
Former IPRs
While many former IPRs have been elevated to DOC status under the same name, some have instead been absorbed into larger DOCs:- Alcobaça IPRAlcobaça IPRAlcobaça is a Portuguese wine region centered around the town of Alcobaça in the Estremadura region. The region was initially an Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, but in 2005, it became one of two subregions of the Encostas d'Aire DOC, which has Denominação de Origem Controlada status...
, a subregion within Encostas d'Aire DOC since 2005. - Almeirim IPRAlmeirim IPRAlmeirim is a Portuguese wine region centered around the town of Almeirim in the Ribatejo region. The region was initially a separate Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, but in 2003, it became one of six subregions of the Ribatejo DOC, which has the higher Denominação de Origem...
, a subregion within Ribatejo DOC since 2003. - Arrábida IPR, now a part of Palmela DOCPalmela DOCPalmela is a Portuguese wine region centered around the town of Palmela in the Setúbal Peninsula subregion. The wine region has the Denominação de Origem Controlada status after having been elevated from its former Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada status...
. - Cartaxo IPRCartaxo IPRCartaxo is a Portuguese wine region centered around the town of Cartaxo and overlapping the Estremadura and Ribatejo regions. The region was initially a separate Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, but in 2003, it became one of six subregions of the Ribatejo DOC, which has the higher...
, a subregion within Ribatejo DOC since 2003. - Castelo Rodrigo IPRCastelo Rodrigo IPRCastelo Rodrigo is a Portuguese wine region centered around the town of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo in the wider Beiras wine region south of the Douro river...
, a subregion within Beira Interior DOCBeira Interior DOCBeira 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....
since 2005. - Chamusca IPRChamusca IPRChamusca is a Portuguese wine region centered around the town of Chamusca in the Ribatejo region. The region was initially a separate Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, but in 2003, it became one of six subregions of the Ribatejo DOC, which has the higher Denominação de Origem...
, a subregion within Ribatejo DOC since 2003. - Chaves IPRChaves IPRChaves is a Portuguese wine region centered around the town of Chaves in the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro region. The region was initially a separate Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, but in 2006, it became one of three subregions of the Trás-os-Montes DOC, which has the higher...
, a subregion within Trás-os-Montes DOC since 2006. - Coruche IPRCoruche IPRCoruche is a Portuguese wine region encompassing the town of Coruche in the Ribatejo region. The region was initially a separate Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, but in 2003, it became one of six subregions of the Ribatejo DOC, which has the higher Denominação de Origem Controlada ...
, a subregion within Ribatejo DOC since 2003. - Cova da Beira IPRCova da Beira IPRCova da Beira is a Portuguese wine region centered around the Cova da Beira region between the Dão and Vinho Verde DOCs in the wider Beiras VR wine region...
, a subregion within Beira Interior DOCBeira Interior DOCBeira 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....
since 2005. - Encostas da Nave IPR, now a part of Távora-Varosa DOCTávora-Varosa DOCTávora-Varosa is a Portuguese wine region located in the northwestern section of the Beiras region. The region is designated as Denominação de Origem Controlada after it was promoted from its former Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada status, when it was called Varosa IPR...
. - Evora IPREvora IPREvora is a Portuguese wine region centered around the town of Évora in the Alentejo region. The region was initially a separate Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, but in 2003, it became one of eight subregions of the Alentejo DOC, which has the higher Denominação de Origem Controlada ...
, a subregion within Alentejo DOC since 2003. - Granja-Amareleja IPR, a subregion within Alentejo DOC since 2003.
- Moura IPRMoura IPRMoura is a Portuguese wine region centered around the town of Moura in the Alentejo wine region. The region was initially a separate Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, but in 2003, it became one of eight subregions of the Alentejo DOC, which has the higher Denominação de Origem...
, a subregion within Alentejo DOC since 2003. - Pinhel IPRPinhel IPRPinhel is a Portuguese wine region centered around the town of Pinhel in the wider Beiras wine region. Pinhel was initially a separate Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, but in 2005, it became one of three subregions of the Beira Interior DOC, which has the higher Denominação de...
, a subregion within Beira Interior DOCBeira Interior DOCBeira 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....
since 2005. - Planalto Mirandês IPRPlanalto Mirandês IPRPlanalto Mirandes is a Portuguese wine region centered around the town of Miranda do Douro in the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro region. The region was initially a separate Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, but in 2006, it became one of three subregions of the Trás-os-Montes DOC, which...
, a subregion within Trás-os-Montes DOC since 2006. - Santarém IPRSantarém IPRSantarém is a Portuguese wine region centered around the town of Santarém in the Ribatejo region. The region was initially a separate Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, but in 2003, it became one of six subregions of the Ribatejo DOC, which has the higher Denominação de Origem...
, a subregion within Ribatejo DOC since 2003. - Tomar IPRTomar IPRTomar is a Portuguese wine region centered around the town of Tomar in the Ribatejo region. The region was initially a separate Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, but in 2003, it became one of six subregions of the Ribatejo DOC, which has the higher Denominação de Origem Controlada ...
, a subregion within Ribatejo DOC since 2003. - Valpaços IPRValpaços IPRValpaços is a Portuguese wine region centered around the town of Valpaços in the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro region. The region was initially a separate Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada region, but in 2006, it became one of three subregions of the Trás-os-Montes DOC, which has the higher...
, a subregion within Trás-os-Montes DOC since 2006. - Varosa IPRVarosa IPRTávora-Varosa is a Portuguese wine region located in the northwestern section of the Beiras region. The region is designated as Denominação de Origem Controlada after it was promoted from its former Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada status, when it was called Varosa IPR...
, now a part of Távora-Varosa DOCTávora-Varosa DOCTávora-Varosa is a Portuguese wine region located in the northwestern section of the Beiras region. The region is designated as Denominação de Origem Controlada after it was promoted from its former Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada status, when it was called Varosa IPR...
.
Vinhos Regionais
- Açores VRAçores VRAçores is a Portuguese wine region situated on the Azores islands. The region is classified as a Vinho Regional , which corresponds to table wines with a geographical indication under European Union wine regulations, similar to a French vin de pays region.-IPR regions:Within the Açores VR there are...
- Alentejano VR
- Algarve VRAlgarve VRAlgarve 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...
- Beiras VRBeiras VRBeiras 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...
- Duriense VRDuriense VRDuriense is a Portuguese wine region covering the same area as the Douro DOC and the Port wine region. In difference from Douro DOC, Duriense VR is a designation at the lower Vinho Regional level, which corresponds to table wines with a geographical indication under European Union wine...
- Lisboa VR (until 2009 known as Estremadura VR)
- Minho VR (previously Rios do Minho VR)
- Tejo VR (until 2009 known as Ribatejo VR)
- Península de Setúbal VR (until 2009 known as Terras do Sado VR)
- Terras Madeirenses VRTerras Madeirenses VRTerras Madeirenses is a Portuguese wine region situated on the islands of Madeira, both on the main island and on the Porto Santo Island. The region is classified as a Vinho Regional , which corresponds to table wines with a geographical indication under European Union wine regulations, similar to...
- Transmontano VR (previously Trás-os-Montes VR)