What is Touriga Nacional wine?

Touriga Nacional (“tor-ee-gah nah-see-un-nall”) is a full-bodied red wine from Portugal with aging potential like Cabernet Sauvignon. This unsung grape variety is most common as a blending grape in Port wine and has only recently been championed as a dry red wine.

Is Touriga Nacional the same as Tempranillo?

Touriga Nacional’s traditional use in blends may also mean that it has not garnered the publicity of a solo performer. In Port, it is one of the five central varieties, alongside Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz – better known as Tempranillo.

What does Touriga Nacional taste like?

When drinking Touriga Nacional expect to taste strong fruit flavors that include blueberries, plums, and blackberries. Alongside these pronounced fruit notes, expect to taste dark chocolate, mint, and violet. Touriga Nacional can be aged and doing so brings forward sweeter notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

What does Touriga Nacional pair with?

For pairings, Touriga Nacional works best with dishes bold enough to stand up to its fruit and muscle. Portuguese cuisine is seafood-heavy, but Touriga Nacional works well with francesinha (a smoked meat sandwich), tripas de moda do porto (tripe stew), and even grilled octopus.

What is Tempranillo called in Portugal?

Aragonez
Tempranillo (also known as Ull de Llebre, Cencibel, Tinto Fino and Tinta del Pais in Spain, Aragonez or Tinta Roriz in Portugal, and several other synonyms elsewhere) is a black grape variety widely grown to make full-bodied red wines in its native Spain.

How do you pronounce Touriga Nacional?

Touriga Nacional: Too-REE-gah NAH-syo-NAHL And this red grape is key to the structure of both its table and legendary fortified wines.

What is tempranillo called in Portugal?

Is Tempranillo a Rioja wine?

Tempranillo, has been known as the backbone of Spain’s most noble wine region, Rioja, for many generations. Often blended with local grapes Garnacha (Grenache) and Mazuela (Carignan), Rioja reds have been Spain’s signature wine for almost two hundred years.

Are Portuguese wines good?

Portuguese wines have been acknowledged internationally as one of the best and most consumed in the world. They can range from sweet to dry, delicate to intense, and everything in between. From vintages like 2014 to 2019, these wines are sure to please any palate!

What is Touriga Nacional?

Touriga Nacional is a dark-skinned grape variety that is currently very fashionable and is widely believed to produce the finest red wines of Portugal. Extensively planted in the Portugal’s northern Dao and Douro wine regions, the variety is a key ingredient in both dry red wines and the fortified wines of Oporto ( Port ).

What does Touriga Nacional wine taste like?

Both varieties display bold dark-fruit flavors, often with hints of spice, leather and violet. Like Cabernet Sauvignon, Touriga Nacional has firm tannins, is expressive as a varietal wine and shows great aging potential. As a blend, though, it really comes into its own, which is fortunate in Portugal where blends are de rigueur.

What to drink with Touriga Nacional?

Food Pairing with Touriga Nacional A lamb pie with mint would be an awesome pairing with Touriga Nacional wine. by Mr & Mrs Stickyfingers Touriga Nacional, in its boldness, stands quite well on its own as a cocktail wine, however there are certain foods that will calm its bold tannins and bring out its lushness.

What makes Portugal’s Touriga Nacional special?

Touriga Nacional is Portugal’s signature grape, its international vinous calling card. It’s close to entering the hallowed territory of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir in red wine renown.