Touriga Nacional

September 12, 2018- Updated September 8, 2019

tor-see-gah nah-see-un-nall

An increasingly important red from Portugal that was originally used in Port wines and is now featured in single varietal wines and red blends from the Douro Valley.

Primary Flavors

Blueberry
Violet
Plum
Mint
Wet Slate

Taste Profile

Dry

Full Body

High Tannins

Medium-high Acidity

Over 15% ABV

Handling

SERVE
60–68°F / 15-20°C
GLASS TYPE
Oversized
DECANT
1 Hour
CELLAR
10+ Years

Food Pairing

Touriga Nacional’s elegant floral fruit aromas and massive tannins will make you yearn for thick cut steaks topped with compound butter or blue cheese.

Buy the Book - Get the Course!

Get the Wine 101 Course ($29 value) FREE with the purchase of Wine Folly: Magnum Edition.

Learn More

AboutMadeline Puckette

James Beard Award-winning author and Wine Communicator of the Year. I co-founded Wine Folly to help people learn about wine. @WineFolly

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

Hailing from Tuscany, this white grape is also the varietal in the Tuscan regional wine with the same name. Wines are bright, citrusy and crisp, and lend a slight bitter note on the finish.

Zweigelt

Austria’s most planted red wine grape and is a cross between Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent (tastes like Pinot Noir). Resulting wines are bright, tart, and fruity.

Zinfandel (Primitivo)

A fruit-forward-yet-bold red that’s loved for its red fruit flavors and smoky exotic spice notes. Originally from Croatia and related to top Croatian grape, Plavic Mali.

Xinomavro

The most important grape of Naoussa, Greece where wine enthusiasts often cite the Xinomavro’s similarities to the Nebbiolo grape and the collector-worthy wine’s of Barolo.

Viura

The most important white grape of Rioja where wines evolve over 10 or more years. In Catalonia, Viura is called Macabeo and is the primary blending grape in Cava sparkling wines.

Vermentino is an important white of Sardinia and Tuscany where producers offer both oaked and unoaked styles. It’s also one of the top white blending grapes included in Provence Rosé (labeled as Rolle).