Vinhos Verdes Indigenous Grape Varieties

The Vinhos Verdes Region is home to a rich diversity of indigenous grape varieties, adapted over centuries to the local soils and microclimates. Some of these varieties have gradually fallen out of use for one reason or another, losing their place in vineyard plantings, as in the case of Batoca, Cainho, Cascal, Amaral, Pedral, and Borraçal, among others.

In the last decade, however, several of these grapes have been revived, as a result of both CVRVV research and the efforts of producers themselves. The goal is threefold: to preserve the region’s genetic heritage; to expand the range of distinctive wines; and to broaden the available options for a future shaped by climate change.

The overwhelming majority of Vinhos Verdes wines (white, rosé, and red) are, however, produced from a core group of approximately ten white and red grape varieties that combine distinctive character with consistent quality.