Beira Interior, Távora-Varosa and Lafões is the name of a Portuguese wine region that speads out through Beira Alta and Beira Baixa. It is a beautiful region that offers you amazing landscapes, mountains and rivers, food and of course the wines. Each sub-region produces its own distinct wine and that adds to the diversity of this region. Most wines produced in this region are from Cooperatives, however, in recent years, more and more small producers have emerged and started producing their own boutique wines.
The region
The region is subdivided into 3 sub-regions: Beira Interior, Távora-Varosa and Lafões. Each of these sub-regions has its own Denomination of Origin label. The soil is mainly granitic and schistic due to the irregular landscape. The mountains and altitude mean the climate is quite extreme. The Summers are hot and dry and the Winters are very snowy and cold.
The grapes
You can find both native and international grapes in this region. From the international varieties, you can find both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the sub-region of Távora-Varosa. The native white varieties are Arinto, Bical, Cercial, Fernão Pires, Fonte Cal, Malvasia Fina, Rabo de Ovelha, Síria. The native red varieties produced in the region are Aragonez, Rufete, Touriga Franca and the famous Touriga Nacional, which is a grape you can find almost in every region.
The wines
Each sub-region have their own characteristics and that reflects in their wines. Beira Interior or Domination of Origin of Beira Interior produces fresh and aromatic whites, while the reds are fruity and full-bodied. The sub-region Távora-Varosa or Denomination of Origin of Távora-Varosa is known for its sparking. However, you can also find amazing fresh whites and soft reds. The Denomination of Origin of Lafões wines come from a small region in the north of Dão with very few producers. Even so, the region is quite famous for its bright reds and its high acidity whites.