MINHO

MINHO

The wine region of Minho occupies the northwestern part of the Portuguese territory, remaining almost entirely between the Minho and Douro rivers. Its landscape and climate are very characteristic of the region: hills and valleys, granitic soils, with cool summers and mild winters. It is an area with high humidity as a result of significant rainfall that occurs in much of the year, as well as the winds blowing from the sea.

A BIT OF HISTORY

The oldest references to wine production in the Minho region dates back to Roman times. It is a densely populated area with a large number of producers and several small productions. The unique characteristics assume different contours of all others in Portugal. Trellises on the paths and vines intertwined in the trees that line the fields form a stunning landscape. These forms of driving vines have however been replaced by others, with a more modern, more facilitative nature of the work and that help improve the quality of wines.

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA

• Viana do Castelo District;
• Braga District;
• Ribeira da Pena Municipality;
• Mondim de Basto;
• Santo Tirso Municipality;
• Maia Municipality;
• Vila do Conde Municipality;
• Póvoa de Varzim Municipality;
• Maia Municipality;
• Matosinhos Municipality;
• Gondomar Municipality;
• Valongo Municipality;
• Paredes Municipality;
• Paços de Ferreira Municipality;
• Lousada;
• Felgueiras;
• Penafiel Municipality;
• Amarante Municipality;
• Marco de Canaveses Municipality;
• Baião;
• Castelo de Paiva District;
• Vale de Cambra District;
• Arouca Municipality;
• Cinfães;
• Resende Municipality (in part);
• Oliveira de Azeméis (in part).

RED GRAPE VARIETIES

• Alfrocheiro;
  
• Alicante-Bouschet;
  
• Alvarelhão;
  
• Amaral;
  
• Aragonez;
  
• Baga;
  
• Borraçal;
  
• Cabernet-Franc;
  
• Cabernet-Sauvignon;
  
• Castelão;
  
• Doçal;
  
• Doce;
  
• Espadeiro;
  
• Espadeiro-Mole;
  
• Grand-Noir;
  
• Jaen;
  
• Labrusco;
  
• Merlot;
  
• Mourisco;
  
• Padeiro;
  
• Pedral;
  
• Pical;
  
• Pinot-Noir;
  
• Rabo-de-Anho;
  
• Sezão;
  
• Syrah;
  
• Tinta-Barroca;
  
• Touriga-Nacional;
  
• Trincadeira;
  
• Verdelho-Tinto;
  
• Verdial-Tinto;
  
• Vinhão.

WHITE GRAPE VARIETIES

• Alvarinho;
• Arinto;
• Avesso;
• Azal;
• Batoca;
• Cainho;
• Cascal;
• Chardonnay;
• Chenin;
• Colombard;
• Diagalves;
• Esganinho;
• Esganoso;
• Fernão-Pires;
• Folgasão;
• Gouveio;
• Lameiro;
• Loureiro;
• Malvasia-Fina;
• Malvasia-Rei;
• Muller-Thurgau;
• Pinot-Blanc;
• Pintosa;
• Rabo-de-Ovelha;
• Riesling;
• São-Mamede;
• Sauvignon;
• Sercial;
• Tália;
• Trajadura;
• Viosinho.

Geographical Indication Minho

The wines from the Minho region were first designated in 1993, of Rios de Minho. Later, in 1997, came to designation of only Minho.

Denomination of Origin Vinho Verde

The first reference to green wines in the world dates back to the seventeenth century. Portugal was one of the first regions demarcated and assumes itself as the largest in the country for wines with Designation of Origin as classification. The wines produced here are unique in the world, highlighting however, also nationally for its uniqueness: high fixed acidity, low alcohol and the designated peak or needle. The reds are distinguished by their astringency.

Can be distinguished in this geographical area of production, nine sub-regions: Amarante, Bird, Baiao, Basto, Cávado, Lima, Monção and Melgaço, Paiva and Sousa.

Geographical Area

The same regions belonging to the Geographical Indication Minho.