What is Touriga Nacional wine?
Touriga Nacional (“tor-ee-gah nah-see-un-nall”) is a full-bodied red wine from Portugal with aging potential like Cabernet Sauvignon. This unsung grape variety is most common as a blending grape in Port wine and has only recently been championed as a dry red wine.
What is the most famous wine from Portugal?
Douro. Port is the most famous and most copied wine from Portugal, and it grows in the Douro Valley.
Is Touriga Nacional the same as Tempranillo?
Touriga Nacional’s traditional use in blends may also mean that it has not garnered the publicity of a solo performer. In Port, it is one of the five central varieties, alongside Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz – better known as Tempranillo.
What is Touriga Nacional similar to?
All in all, it has a similar fruit profile to the king of red wine: Cabernet Sauvignon. Arguably the finest red grape variety of Portugal, Touriga Nacional definitely deserves its place alongside the noble grape varieties such as Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
How strong is Portuguese wine?
(usually somewhere around 9%)
It’s a low-alcohol wine (usually somewhere around 9%) that often has a slight spritz and is very easy to drink. It’s great with seafood, and its low alcohol content means it’s a good option for lunchtime drinking as well.
How do you drink Portuguese wine?
Sparkling wine is often chosen as an aperitif, when it is accompanied by light nibbles and starters. It is very common for the Portuguese to finish their meal with a dessert or fortified wine – usually washed down with a bica (espresso) – with port, Madeira and sherry among the favourites.
How good is Portuguese wine?
For a relatively small country, the range of red wines produced in Portugal is remarkable. If you want powerful showstoppers, head to the Douro Valley. For rich, fruity styles, the Alentejo is your best bet; and for softer reds with plenty of refreshing acidity, try the Dão.
What does Touriga Nacional taste like?
The Flavors of Touriga Nacional On the nose, expect tones of blackberry, currant, and plum fruitiness with intense herbals like licorice and mint.
Is Touriga wine sweet?
Dry or sweetTouriga Nacional / Sweetness of resulting wine
Is Portuguese wine any good?
Award-winning Portuguese wine. If you’re keen to liven up your wine repertoire, Portugal is the ideal place to start. You’ll come across some varieties you’ve tried before, but Portuguese wine is famed for showcasing a fascinating array of indigenous grapes, all of which open up a new world of flavours and tastes.
Are Portuguese wines good?
“In terms of quality for the price, Portuguese wines are exceptional,” says Faustino. “After living in Italy for years, I can drink really good-quality wines that are 20 to 30 euros here versus 100-something equivalents in Italy.