Tejo">Alentejo is a well-known, highly respected wine region in eastern Portugal. This hot, Dry area covers approximately a third of the country and is best known for its red wine, the best of which are sold under the and Alentejo DOC (Denominacao de Origem Controlada) title.
Wine from Alentejo is typically made from Aragonez (Tempranillo), Castelao, Trincadeira or a Rich, ripe, jammy blend of the three. Antao Vaz is the white variety of choice here, producing a good level of Acidity and tropical fruit flavors.
Although famously diverse in its portfolio of wine grapes (navigating the many names and their synonyms is a challenge), Alentejo has not been sluggish to adopt such globally popular varieties as Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. One of the most remarkable things about modern Alentejo winemaking is its ability to create a uniquely Alentejano wine style from quintessentially French grape varieties.
The region is named for its position South of the Tejo river, which bisects Portugal, entering the ocean near Lisbon. Alentejo extends across about a third of Portugal, with only the Algarve region separating it from the southern coast of the country.
Even the briefest of glances at a population density map of Portugal shows that this area of the country is only very sparsely populated, in stark contrast to the Northern coastal areas around Oporto. Land here is used (somewhat intensively) for the production of various cereal crops, and the cork for which Portugal is so famous. Whereas the cork plantations of the north are quite small, here in Alentejo there is sufficient free space for the thick-barked Quercus suber trees to sprawl out all over the countryside.
The Size of Alentejo means that there is a wealth of Terroir, and it is fairly difficult to generalize about the region as a whole.
Merlot noir is a grape variety that originated in France (Bordeaux). It produces a variety of grape specially used for wine making. It is rare to find this grape to eat on our tables. This variety of grape is characterized by small to medium sized bunches, and medium sized grapes. Merlot noir can be found in many vineyards: South West, Languedoc & Roussillon, Cognac, Bordeaux, Loire Valley, Armagnac, Burgundy, Jura, Champagne, Rhone Valley, Beaujolais, Provence & Corsica, Savoie & Bugey.
red wines from the region of Alentejano go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or veal such as recipes of greek moussaka, lamb tagine with olives and honey or tanjia.
On the nose in the region of Alentejano often reveals types of flavors of oak, black fruit or non oak and sometimes also flavors of earth, spices. In the mouth in the region of Alentejano is a powerful with a nice balance between acidity and tannins.
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