Bairrada
Demarcated in 1979, this Portuguese province flanks the Atlantic and extends from just south of Porto to Europe's oldest university at Coimbra. The vineyards of the Monastery of Lorvao have been favored since the 10th century. The soils tend towards a mixture of clay and limestone, giving the red wines their characteristic chalky, earthy flavors that are a good match to the roast suckling pig, lamb, goat, and game common to the area. The climate is mainly temperate. Grape varieties for red wine are largely Baga, Castelao, Joao de Santar‚m, Tinta Pinheira, and Bastardo. The wines have long aging potential, with the highly tannic Baga frequently softened by other grape varieties, particularly Castelao which is now being widely planted.
|
