Grape Variety: Trincadeira Preta

Colour: Red

Trincadeira Preta is a fair weather friend and for centuries it has been chosen as one of the main varieties by the Portuguese regions with hotter summers. It is the most cultivated variety in Alentejo, but it has also a strong presence in Douro (under the name of Tinta Amarela) and in Ribatejo. It was also adopted in Estremadura, Palmela and the Algarve, though in smaller quantities. Trincadeira doesn’t flourish in damp regions or fertile soils, where it is more prone to disease. The skin of the grape is fragile and tends to be adversely affected by rot.

Its great qualities are only evident in drier regions, with poor soils and dry and hot climate during maturation. Under these conditions, and especially in Alentejo and some areas of Ribatejo, it yields wines with a good colour concentration, very fruity aromas with vegetal notes (fresh herb) full-bodied and smooth but solid tannins, allowing a good evolution in bottle. With age, Trincadeira wines gain aromas and flavours of jam, red plum and also spices, such as cinnamon and clove. In Alentejo it is often used together with Aragonez grape, forming thus a very successful pair. Several wine producers of this region choose to produce single variety Trincadeira wines, where this variety can boast all the features which made it famous.

Located in the Dão region near Penalva de Castelo, Quinta da Vegia has 20 ha of vineyard planted to Touriga Nacional, Aragonês (the local clone of Tempranillo) and Trincadeira Preta. Porta Fronha is their unoaked cuvée, bursting with crunchy red berry fruit, plus food-friendly earthy and spicy notes. Deep, bright red. Spicy, almost saline aromas of fresh red berries, plums and cherry skin. Lively and sweet, the red fruit qualities showing striking purity and focus. Really delicious wine with impressive lift and energy to the finish, which leaves a strong impression of pure, fresh strawberry and raspberry fruit.

Like so many Portuguese reds you can imagine drinking Trincadeira based wines with some wild boar.