Algarve Wine Region

It is the southernmost region of mainland Portugal, with the Alentejo region as the border to the north and the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean to the south.

Named, since 1980, as the Demarcated Region of the Algarve, it produces red, white, rosé and liqueur wines.

With one million certified bottles per year and two thousand registered vineyards, it is easy to see that the Algarve is not an extensive wine region. But, although the dimension is still small, the work that has been developed there is increasingly serious and with encouraging results.

Image: O Algarve - Económico

Sub-Regions of the Algarve Wine Region

The Algarve Wine Region is divided into four sub-regions: Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa and Tavira. A different type of wine is produced in each of these sub-regions.

• Lagos (1)

• Reds – they are velvety, not very full-bodied, with a fruity aroma. Open colored wines, having a ruby tone that, over the years, acquires a topaz tone.
  Whites – they have a color between citrus and straw and are delicate and smooth wines with a characteristic hint of a hot zone.

• Portimão (2)

• Reds – velvety, full-bodied and with fruity aromas. Alcohol is well noted and has a defined ruby color.
  Whites – they have an open straw color, being delicate and smooth wines.

• Lagoa (3)

• Reds – they are ruby and velvety, full-bodied, fruity and with little acid. Easy to drink and evolve very well.
  Whites – they have a citrus color; robust and smooth wines, with great capacity for evolution.

• Tavira (4)

• Reds – velvety, full-bodied and with a fruity aroma.
  Whites – they have a color between citrus and straw, they are delicate and smooth. They taste like a typical wine from a warm region.

Types of wine and grape varieties in the Algarve Wine Region

In addition to traditional grape varieties, mainly Castelão and Negra Mole, and white Arinto and Síria, in recent years, Touriga Nacional and Syrah have been very successful in this region.

Varieties suitable for the production of Denomination of Origin wines:

• Lagos

• Red: Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Cabernet Sauvignon, Castelão, Monvedro, Negra Mole, Syrah, Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira.
  White: Arinto, Malvasia Fina, Manteúdo, Moscatel-Graúdo, Perrum and Síria.

• Portimão

• Red: Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Cabernet Sauvignon, Castelão, Monvedro, Negra Mole, Syrah, Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira.
  White: Arinto, Manteúdo, Moscatel-Graúdo, Perrum, Rabo-de-Ovelha and Síria.

• Lagoa

• Red: Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Cabernet Sauvignon, Castelão, Monvedro, Moreto, Negra Mole, Syrah, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira.
  White: Arinto, Manteúdo, Moscatel-Graúdo, Perrum, Rabo-de-Ovelha and Síria.

• Tavira

• Red: Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Cabernet Sauvignon, Castelão, Negra Mole, Syrah, Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira.
  White: Arinto, Diagalves, Manteúdo, Moscatel-Graúdo, Síria and Tamariz.

The wines of the Algarve Region are wines with high sugar and alcohol content. The acidity is medium / low, thanks to the correction made during winemaking. The tannins are smooth and not very marked. They are fruity wines, soft, with medium body, therefore wines easy to drink.

Terroir of the Algarve Wine Region

In this region, the soils are clay-limestone and the climate is hot, requiring irrigation several times.

It is a region with a maritime climate, thanks to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean and, at the same time, hot and dry, due to the presence of mountains to the north. It has a reduced thermal amplitude and a very significant sun exposure.

Image: Sul Informação

Harmonization of Algarve wines

Fruity wines, as is the case with the typical wines of this region, combine with dishes without many spices and sauces. The tannins always present in red wines, here are in the background. The dishes that best match this type of wines are those with light and mild sauces. No red meat with a lot of fat, the salt and the lightness of the meat is essential in the harmonization of these wines.