Wines made from Sangiovese grapes of Beiras
Discover the best wines made with Sangiovese as a single variety or as a blend of Beiras.
Originally from Italy, it is the famous Sangiovese of Tuscany producing the famous wines of Brunello de Montalcino and Chianti. This variety is registered in the Official Catalogue of Wine Grape Varieties, list A1. According to recent genetic analysis, it is the result of a natural cross between the almost unknown Calabrese di Montenuovo (mother) and Ciliegiolo (father).
Beiras (Beira) is a traditional administrative region in the northern half of Portugal. It is also the name of the IGP, or Indicacoes Geograficas Protegidas, wine classification (formerly known as Vinho Regional) which covers the region as a whole. A wide range of wines are made in Beiras – red wines from the region are typically Rich, deeply colored wines made from Baga, Castelão, Rufete (Tinto Pinheira), Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Touriga Nacional, and are sometimes fortified to emulate their more famous Oporto cousins. Whites are most often based on Fernão Pires and Bical, the latter being a small-berried variety with the affectionate nickname Borrado das Moscaos ('fly droppings').