Touriga Nacional

Touriga Nacional is a blue-black grape variety native to Portugal and is considered one of the country’s best, often compared to Cabernet Sauvignon by wine critics. Known primarily for producing rich and robust Port wines, Touriga Nacional is also increasingly used to make exceptional, full-bodied dry red wines.

Touriga Nacional wines are typically deeply colored and concentrated, with high tannin content. They exhibit complex aromas and flavors of dark fruits like blackberries and cassis, often with floral notes such as violets and roses. Depending upon the winemaking process, you might also notice hints of herbs, licorice and dark chocolate.

Due to the grape’s thick skin and small size, it yields wines with excellent aging potential, which can develop more complex secondary and tertiary flavors over time.

While it’s most commonly found in the Douro and Dão regions of Portugal, Touriga Nacional has also been successfully grown in other wine regions worldwide, including Australia, South Africa and California.

Touriga Nacional (pronounced tor-ee-gah nah-see-un-nall) is considered Portugal’s finest grape variety. Native to the country, this hardy red grape can be found growing throughout the Douro and Dão wine regions. In the Douro Valley, it’s used as a key grape variety in fortified Port wines, due to its complex flavors, robust structure and excellent aging potential. In the Dão region, Touriga Nacional is often used to create deeply colored, aromatic and balanced dry table wines.

Apart from Portugal, the hardy Touriga Nacional grape is successfully grown in other parts of the world, including:

• Australia: Particularly in regions like the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, where it produces both single-variety and blended dry red wines.
• South Africa: Here, it is primarily used in fortified Port-style wines and red blends.
• United States: Especially in California, where it’s used in Port-style wines and increasingly in dry reds.
• Spain: Grown in regions close to the Portuguese border, it is known locally as Touriga.

With a very high skin-to-pulp ratio, the small Touriga Nacional grapes produce incredibly concentrated wines with intense aromas and high tannin content that softens with age.

Portugal’s Touriga Nacional wines are famous for their boldness and deep flavors. Red wines made from this grape variety are full-bodied and dry, with a similar aging potential to Cabernet Sauvignon.

The wines are typically well-structured, thanks to the grape’s small size and thick skins, contributing to the high tannin content. Despite their strength and intensity, Touriga Nacional wines often have a certain finesse, with an elegant balance between the fruit, floral and spice notes.

To create the iconic red Port wines, Touriga Nacional is blended with a combination of four other native red varieties: Tinta Barroca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Roriz (also known as Tempranillo) and Touriga Francesa. In these Port blends, Touriga Nacional adds structure and body.

Touriga Nacional is commonly blended with Tinta Roriz/Tempranillo or Touriga Franca to create dry red table wines. These wines have good levels of acidity and intense red fruit flavors, which are excellent for balancing Touriga Nacional’s bold character.

A Touriga Nacional wine is worth trying if you’re a fan of warm-climate reds like a rich Barossa Shiraz or a lush Napa Valley Cabernet.

Known for their rich intensity and sturdy structure, Touriga Nacional wines stand out with their prominent dark fruit flavors—notably blackberries, black currants and ripe plums. Floral nuances, especially those of violets and roses, often complement these fruit notes. They may also feature hints of herbs, spices and licorice, depending on the winemaking process. If aged in oak, additional flavors such as vanilla, toast and dark chocolate may be introduced.

With their robust tannins and well-balanced acidity, Touriga Nacional wines boast excellent aging potential and—despite their bold character—they maintain an elegant complexity.

They’re a great choice for anyone who enjoys full-bodied, aromatic wines.

Touriga Nacional’s rich and robust character makes it a highly versatile pairing with various dishes.

Its tannin structure and intensity can hold up against the richness of red meats, such as beef, lamb or game. The wine’s dark fruit and herbal notes further complement the smoky flavors of grilled meats or vegetables. It also pairs well with hearty stews or casseroles, particularly those featuring beef or lamb, and can balance the strong flavors of ripe cheeses.

Touriga Nacional wines can also pair well with hearty vegetarian dishes, such as grilled portobello mushrooms and dishes with rich, creamy sauces. Additionally, the full-bodied nature of Touriga Nacional can handle moderately spicy dishes.

Touriga Nacional, like most full-bodied red wines, is best served slightly below room temperature, typically between 60-65°F. If the wine is too warm, the alcohol can overpower the nuanced flavors.

With its robust structure and high tannin content, Touriga Nacional benefits from decanting. This allows the wine to breathe, soften and fully express its complex flavors. Depending on the age and style of the wine, you might want to decant it anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours before serving.

Serve your Touriga Nacional wine in a large, broad-rimmed wine glass. This allows the wine to breathe and the aromas to be savored.