Alentejo (Vinho do Alentejo, Alentejo wines) is Portuguese wine region located in the Alentejo region of the country. The entire region is entitled to use the Vinho Regional designation Alentejano VR, while some areas are also classified at the higher Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC) level under the designation Alentejo DOC.[1][2] VR is similar to the French vin de pays and DOC to the French AOC. Located in the southern half of Portugal, the Alentejo region covers about a third of the country and is sparsely populated. The region is noted for it vast cork production but has in recent years garnered attention for its table wine production.[3]
Contents |
There are eight subregions of the Alentejo region that are entitled to the Alentejo DOC designation. The names of the subregions may be indicated on the label together with the name Alentejo, for example as Alentejo-Borba. These subregions were initially created as separate Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada (IPR) wine regions, after which some were elevated to DOC status. In 2003, these separate DOCs and IPRs were put together as the Alentejo DOC.[4] Listed from north to south the eight subregions are the following.[3]
The principle grapes of the Alentejo region includes Abundante, Alfrocheiro Preto, Alicante Bouschet, Antao Vaz, Arinto, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Chardonnay, Diagalves, Fernao Pires, Grand Noir, Manteudo, Moreto, Palomino, Periquita, Rabo de Ovelha, Tempranillo and Trincadeira.[3]