Touriga Nacional grape is a Portuguese variety that enjoys immense recognition due to its significant role in crafting the famed Port wines and numerous top-shelf red wines. Widely appreciated for its intrinsic high-quality features, this dark-skinned grape is widely cultivated in Portugal's Douro Valley, Dão and other regions, and has also become well-adapted to Californian and Australian vineyards.
Its reputation is strongly predicated on its intense, concentrated flavours and robust tannins that yield complex, full-bodied wines; these culminate in a drinking experience that is nothing short of sumptuous. Its bouquet is characteristically perfumed, bearing a plethora of notes, most commonly those of black fruits like blackcurrant and blackberry, alongside hints of floral tones such as violet and bergamot, sometimes accompanied by a spicy undertone.
One distinct attribute of the Touriga Nacional grape is its small berry size. This results in a wine with a greater skin to juice ratio, leading to richer colour and enhanced polyphenolics. Despite its low yield, it is frequently utilised for its outstanding quality. Moreover, it endows the resultant wines with an impressive ageing potential, which gradually brings forth nuances of chocolate, leather and vanilla, further refining the tasting experience.
Touriga Nacional has marked its position as an international grape varietal, contributing to not only fortified wines like Port but also exquisite table wines. It is typically blended with other indigenous Portuguese grapes, although varietal wines from this grape are emerging, gaining accolades for their character and depth. The Touriga Nacional grape, with its vibrant, concentrated character and complex profile, has undeniably secured a spot among the greatest grape varieties the world has to offer.
Buy Touriga Nacional wine below.
