The Iberian Peninsula’s icon varietal is planted in many of its premier regions including Spain Rioja & Ribera del Duero zones. Portugal boasts stellar quality and is most recognized for the famous Douro Valley, where the dessert wine ‘Port’ hails from. Known for plump berries with moderately thick skins, the resulting wines produce vibrant aromas of fresh berry, cherry, tobacco and leather. Traditional winemakers have used American Oak to age this red while modernists try their hand with shorter periods in French Oak. As a result, one can expect medium to full-bodied reds with a sturdy structure diverse enough to pair with a wide array of foods.
Key Regions: Spain; Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Toro. Portugal; Douro Valley, Dao, Alentejo