Grape in focus

Other red grapes: the quiet forces

Alongside the big names, Portugal grows dozens of smaller red grapes. Some are international, such as Syrah and Caladoc. Others are old Portuguese varieties that give a blend that little extra. Here are the most important ones.

Our wines

Read more about the other Portuguese grapes in our overview of Portuguese grape varieties.

Syrah

With 6,467 hectares (2025), Syrah is already Portugal’s seventh grape, mainly in the Alentejo and Lisboa. It was widely planted around the turn of the century and gives ripe, spicy red wine there. In our range it comes in blends, as at Humus in Lisboa and Quinta da Murta in Bucelas.

Tinta Barroca

Tinta Barroca (3,077 ha) is one of the classic Douro grapes. It yields well and gives grapes with a lot of sugar, and is often planted on higher or north-facing slopes because it does not cope well with extreme heat. It gives supple, slightly jammy wine that is mainly useful in blends and port.

Caladoc

Caladoc (2,721 ha) is a French cross of Grenache and Malbec from 1958. In Portugal it grows mainly in Lisboa, where it is the most planted grape. It is not currently in our range.

Alfrocheiro

Alfrocheiro is one of the most promising grapes of the Dão: deep colour, blackberry and strawberry, and a fine balance of alcohol and acidity. DNA research identifies it as the parent of at least twenty Iberian grapes, including Castelão and Mencía. In the Dão it is often blended with Touriga Nacional and Jaen; Alvaro Castro even makes a pure Alfrocheiro.

Tinto Cão

Tinto Cão, literally red dog, is one of the five finest port grapes. It had almost disappeared from the Douro because it yields little and does not give the deepest colour, but it is being planted more again. It brings finesse and length to port and red Douro.

Rufete

Rufete, also called Tinta Pinheira, ripens late and gives fruity red wine in the Beiras and the Dão. The grapes need to be fully ripe to convince. You mainly find it in old mixed vineyards, as at Beiorte and in Luis Seabra’s Xisto Cru.

Plantings: IVV, castas mais utilizadas 2025 (ivv.gov.pt). Background: The Oxford Companion to Wine, via JancisRobinson.com.