Wines of Trás-os-Montes are baked by the hot sun in Summer. Trás-os-Montes that literally means “behind the mountains”, is a region in the far northeast of Portugal. The name may be due to the fact that the region is behind two major mountain ranges, Marão and Alvão. The region is also a mix between mountains and tablelands, rivers and greenery. A beautiful landscape, that gives us amazing produce and exquisite wines.
The Region
The soil is mainly granitic and the climate is quite unequal throughout the year. Summers are extremely hot and dry followed by extremely cold and harsh Winters. It is a land of extremes.
The region is subdivided in 3 sub-regions: Chaves, Valpaços and Planalto Mirandês. Each one with its own characteristics. For example, Chaves has slopes and valleys, while Valpaços is quite rich in water resources. Planalto Mirandês is a tableland and it is also irrigated by the river Douro, this will influence its wines.
The grapes
Trás-s-Montes produces amazing red and white grape varieties. In the white category we have Fernão Pires, Mavasia Fina, Rabo de Ovelha, Syrah, Verdelho and Viosinho. For the reds, we have Aragonez, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional which is one of the most famous Portuguese native grape varieties and it can be found in several regions and Trincadeira.
The wines
As a result of such a diverse landscape and climate, the wines in this region are also diverse and depending on the sub-region they come from, they will suffer the influence of that sub-region that will translate in flavour. Generally speaking, the reds produced in Trás-os-Montes are fruity and a little astringent. The whites on the other hand are soft and usually present a nice floral aroma.
Both reds and whites are an amazing complement to the rich local gastronomy. Together they will give you the full experience of this amazing region.