Dão

The high-altitude vineyards of Portugal’s Dão region are known for producing excellent blended wines – not least because, in the local tradition, the small vineyards are often a catchall of various local varieties growing together. In this mountainous region, grapes are planted in any spare earth between rocky outcroppings and pine forests. Red blends are most often based on Touriga Nacional, a thick-skinned, intensely flavored grape, with Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) and other varieties combining to create the region’s typically fresh and full-bodied red wines. The preeminent white grape is Encruzado, which is used only in the Dão to make full-bodied wines with floral aromas and citrus and mineral notes.