Touriga Nacional
Powerful, floral, structured and unmistakably Portuguese. Touriga Nacional is probably Portugal’s most famous red grape variety. It is a key variety in both Port and some of the Douro’s most ambitious dry red wines, but its story reaches far beyond the Douro Valley.
So what happens when you take the same grape and grow it in a completely different part of Portugal?
In this tasting, we’ll explore Touriga Nacional through wines from different regions and in different styles, looking at how climate, soil, altitude and winemaking can change what ends up in your glass.
One grape, many expressions
Touriga Nacional is naturally a small-berried, thick-skinned grape, capable of producing deeply coloured wines with plenty of tannin and concentration. Its distinctive aromatic character is one of its signatures, often combining dark and black fruit with floral notes such as violet, alongside herbal and spicy aromas.
In the Douro Valley, heat, steep slopes, altitude and different vineyard exposures can result in concentrated, structured wines with impressive ageing potential. It is also one of the principal grape varieties traditionally used in Port.
But Touriga Nacional isn't confined to the Douro. It has a particularly important history in the Dão, and today it is planted in wine regions across Portugal. Put it in a cooler climate, different soils or at a different altitude and its expression can change considerably. That makes it a fascinating grape to taste side by side.
More than terroir
We’ll also look at the choices made in the winery:
How does oak influence Touriga Nacional? What happens when it is blended with other Portuguese varieties? And does this naturally powerful grape always have to result in a big, heavy wine?
Through the wines in the line-up, we’ll explore the relationship between grape variety, place and winemaking and discover why Touriga Nacional has become such an important ambassador for Portuguese wine.
What’s included
Guided tasting of 7 wines
Selection of vegetarian bites
Tasting handout with information about the grape, regions and wines
As always, this is an informal but educational tasting. You don’t need any previous wine knowledge: we’ll taste everything together, compare the wines and talk about what we can actually recognise in the glass.
Book your place and discover the many faces of Portugal’s most famous red grape.
📍 House of Wonders, Cascais, Saturday October 31, 16:00–18:30
15 seats available