I couldn’t have said it better than Wines of Portugal themselves: “Few would dispute that the Touriga Nacional is Portugal’s fines red grape variety, deserving a place right up at the top of the world league of grapes, along with the likes of Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Nebbiolo.”

It's Origin

Touriga Nacional’s origin lies in the Northern parts of Portugal. Both the Dão and the Douro region claim the grape’ origin. But has spread throughout the whole country. 

Image Credit: Quinta Da Corte Vineyards ©CGoussard

Climate and Soils

Best suited to warm continental or Mediterranean climates. This amazingly interesting variety grows in the searing heat on steep schist soiled vineyards in the Douro. Those soils are rockier than anything else. It thrives on shallow, stoney, relatively infertile soils, and full sun exposure. That scorching sun in the Douro which, during summer, can lead up to >40°C degrees, but it has small berries can withstand the heat and have some skin burn resistance. Touriga Nacional performs best on granite soils. 

• Portugal, especially in Dão and the Douro (92%)
• USA, California, Virginia (3%)
• South Africa (2%)
• Australia (2%)
• Brazil (1%)
• Other (1%)
• Spain (0.35%)
• Greece (0.27%)

Image Credit: Vinha Portugal

Vine Manual: How does Touriga Nacional Grow

This variety tends to retain its acidity quite well and gives ripe but not overly ripe, jammy flavours of black fruit. 

• Early budding
• Mid-Late ripening
• Drought resistant
• Moderate yielding
• Disease resistant
• Dark-skinned variety
• Vigorous variety, which needs severe pruning to keep it tamed. 
• Usually trained as one of the Guyot Systems
• The vine produces a few bunches which are small to tiny sized. 
• Tiny berries

Image Credit: Quinta Da Corte Vineyards ©CGoussard

It’s all in the Name Baby

Mortagua, Preto de Moragua, Azal Espanhol. In Australia it is simply known as "Touriga”, but in California this abbreviation leads to the variety’s kindship with
Touriga Franca. 

Tickle Your Taste Buds

Touriga Nacional Taste Profile

Touriga is a popular grape that leads many Portuguese dry red blends and the fortified wines known as Port. In Port blends this variety can be blended with up to
eighty different varieties, but the most important grapes are: Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Tinto Cao. 

Concentrated Deep purple colour, med-high acidity, high, firm tannins, med.-high alcohol, med-full body, pronounced intensity, expressive varietal. 

Aromas and Flavours

Bold dark fruit flavours. Black currant, blueberry, black plum, blackberry also raspberry. Often hints of spice, licorice, wet slate, herbal like mint and leather. Touriga Nacional displays floral notes which are distinctive when young; rose, orange blossom and violet.

Did you Know?

That Touriga Nacional is often co-planted with a lot of other varietals in Portugal.

History Fact

Before Phylloxera hit Europe and thereby the Iberian Peninsula, Touriga Nacional was even more widely planted. It has been said that it must have covered about 90% of all Dão winegrowing areas. 

In the past the Touriga Nacional had a lower yielding variety, but its modern clones nowadays produce moderate yields. All to help with its commercial viability, because it was one of the lowest yielding varieties out there. They are even adjusted to pollinate better with increasing in yields about 15%.

Sources

Wine Searcher, “Touriga Nacional Wine” - Accessed on March 5, 2024

Jancis Robinson, “Touriga Nacional” – Accessed on March 5, 2024

Wines of Portugal, “Touriga Nacional”, – Accessed on March 5, 2024

Vinha Portugal, “Touriga Nacional – a leader with fertility problems”, – Accessed on March 5, 2024