The Touriga Blend grape is renowned for its important role in the production of Portugal’s distinguished Port wines, as well as an array of rich and robust table wines. This grape is a mix of several distinct varieties including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and often Tinta Roriz or Tinta Barroca. The combination of these grapes results in wine that is characteristically dark, intense, and brimming with an array of sophisticated flavours.
The Touriga Nacional, as the most famous and highly prized grape in the blend, offers a depth of complex flavours including blackberry, rose, violets and spice. Meanwhile, the Touriga Franca grape contributes to the wine by adding finesse and subtlety, as well as being more resilient and productive, which makes it a favourable vineyard companion.
Tinta Roriz, known as Tempranillo in Spain, adds a certain amount of structure to the blend. This is particularly beneficial for Port production where it serves to provide body that can withstand the fortification process. Last, Tinta Barroca, brings a unique sweet, fruity characteristic to the blend, although it is used less frequently than the others.
Although traditionally associated with Portugal, the Touriga Blend has made a modest international migration, with plantings found in regions such as Australia, South Africa and California. In these areas, the grape is tested by different climates and soils, expressing new and interesting character.
Overall, the Touriga Blend grape offers winemakers a versatile canvas on which to create a dazzling array of wines that offer an opulence of attributes from aromatic floral notes to rich fruity flavours and velvety tannins. For wine enthusiasts, wines from the Touriga blend provides a captivating enjoyment thanks to their profound complexity and unique character that's blended from these celebrated grape varieties.
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