Castelão

Castelão is a Portuguese black grape whose style can shift with climate and crop level. Warm, dry sites in the south—especially old sandy vineyards around Palmela—can produce structured wines with tannin, acidity and redcurrant or plum notes. Cooler sites can yield more delicate wines. DNA-based Portuguese records identify its parentage as Cayetana Blanca and Alfrocheiro Preto.

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Trincadeira

Trincadeira is a Portuguese black grape whose success depends on ripening healthy fruit. The vine is vigorous, and its thin-skinned berries are vulnerable to rot; in cooler or wetter conditions it may fail to ripen fully. When ripe, Portuguese wine sources describe raspberry, pepper, herbs and floral complexity, with colour and good acidity. In the Douro it is known as Tinta Amarela.

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Arinto

Arinto is a Portuguese white grape known for retaining freshness as it ripens. It is prominent in Bucelas and appears widely across Portugal; in Vinho Verde the same cultivar is called Pedernã. Its naturally high acidity supports crisp dry whites, blends and sparkling wines. Arinto dos Açores is a separately catalogued Azorean variety and should not be confused with mainland Arinto.

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Touriga Nacional

Touriga Nacional is a low-yielding Portuguese red grape valued for intense colour, expressive aromas and structure. It is an important variety in both Dão and the Douro, where it contributes to dry table wines as well as Port. Its small bunches and thick-skinned berries can build colour and aroma precursors, while WSET describes typical wines as high in acidity and tannin. In the vineyard, its performance must be matched to the parcel: altitude, exposure, water and maturity vary widely across the Douro.

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