Touriga Franca

Touriga Franca is a noble grape variety that forms the backbone of some of the most superior quality Portuguese wines, most notably those from the renowned Douro Valley and Porto regions. A result of a natural mutation of the pedigree Touriga Nacional variety, it has adapted superbly to the rugged terrains and harsh climatic conditions native to this region.

Touriga Franca bears high-yielding, deeply coloured grapes that lend depth, complexity, and a unique character to the wines derived from them. It delivers distinctive floral notes, coupled with black fruits and fresh herbaceous aromas followed by a rich mouthfeel. The grape is renowned for the resilience it shows on the vine – it withstands both arduous summers and wet winters, thus ensuring a consistent crop year after year. Also, it is appreciated for its harmony with other indigenous varietals like Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional, mostly contributing to the blends.

The wines from Touriga Franca are acknowledged for their exceptional ageing potential, thanks to their robust tannin structure and high concentration of pigments. These wines range from full-bodied and intensely flavoured reds to rich, complex fortified Port wines. Depending upon the specific blending processes and barrel ageing, the taste profile of these wines could hint at nuances of blackcurrant, blueberry, rosemary, and violet, even exhibiting notes of exotic spices.

In recent times, adventurous winemakers have started exploring the potential of Touriga Franca to produce single-varietal wines that truly underline its unique qualities. While relatively lesser-known on global platforms compared to other popular varietals, a surge of interest in native Portuguese grape variants has seen Touriga Franca gaining increased acknowledgement and recognition. For wine connoisseurs, the discovery of this hidden gem is something of immense interest, almost like experiencing an uncharted subtitle to the broader tale of world viticulture.

Buy Touriga Franca wine below.