Baga is a red grape variety mostly used in the Portuguese Bairrada appellation. This dark-skinned grape can produce wines of various characters, but until the 1980s, most producers used it for inexpensive bulk wines. When the approach and the techniques were adjusted, it was shown that Baga is able to produce excellent quality wines with great aromatic structure, good acidity, and firm tannins.

Baga wines are built for long aging and significantly benefit from the time spent in the bottle. The powerful tannins will tone down, and the aromas usually gain some elegance and complexity. Young Baga wines will have aromas of red berries and fruit, which may evolve into more complex expressions of tobacco, plums, and coffee. 

Touriga Nacional is a red grape variety indigenous to Portugal, mainly used to make port. It is predominately grown in the wine regions of Douro and Dão, and recently it has become an appreciated varietal dry wine, which offers great value for money and has a good aging potential.

The wines are usually high in tannins, with a full body, intense flavors, and aromas of blue and black fruits, violets, spices, mint, and cocoa. Touriga Nacional is occasionally blended with Touriga Franca and Tempranillo, which creates more approachable, balanced wines. 

Tinta Cão is one of the most popular red grapes in the Dão and Douro wine regions. It is one of the great ancient Portuguese grapes, but its parentage has not yet been clarified. The grape is used in varietal and blends, and it can produce intensely-colored elegant wines with good aging potential.

The wines made with Tinta Cão will usually have a floral and fruity aroma reminiscent of red and dark fruit, occasionally with hints of spice and some earthy nuances. The tannins are firm but remain soft and rounded. The best expressions will have an excellent balance of acidity, sugar, and alcohol. 

Touriga Franca, also known as Touriga Francesa, is one of the most planted grape varieties in Portugal. It is used in the production of varietal wines, but it is mostly known as one of the quintessential grapes in red Douro blends and Port wines.

Although it is often cited as less prestigious than Touriga Nacional, this dark-skinned grape is able to produce dense wines with fruity and floral aromas that are reminiscent of red and dark berries and roses. The grape is native to Portugal, and though not much is known about its origin, it is believed that it is a cross between Touriga Nacional and another, unknown grape. 

Castelão is a native Portuguese red-skinned grape that is mostly associated with sandy soils of Setúbal, but it is also grown in Tejo and Alentejo. It is one of the most commonly planted Portuguese grapes that is known under various synonyms and is used for both varietals and blends.

Although the character of these wines can slightly differ depending on soil and the region, the best expressions of Castelão will result in somewhat rustic, well-structured wines with bright acidity and firm tannins. With age, the tannins tend to become more mellow and softer. 

Bairrada is a small and narrow Portuguese appellation situated along the Atlantic Ocean. The region is best known for varietal red wines made from the local Baga grape. This high-yield grape usually produces powerful reds that age well and are typically high in tannins and acidity.

Although Baga is the undisputed king of the region, other Portuguese grapes (Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz) and some international varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Pinot Noir) are planted and mostly used in blends. Apart from the flagship red wines, Bairrada also includes small amounts of bottle-fermented sparkling wines and fresh, mineral whites usually made from Fernão Pires, Bical, and Arinto. 

Mencía or Jaen is a grape whose origin is associated with the Iberian peninsula. In the past, it was believed that Mencía and Jaen are two separate varieties, but recent research has shown that they are genetically identical.

In Spain, the grape is mostly associated with the Bierzo appellation that is located in the province of León. While for most of its history, Mencía was used in the production of light, somewhat bland table wines, some winemakers have seen the potential to produce more concentrated and better quality varietals with a medium body and good natural acidity. 

Colares is a small Portuguese wine region located north of Lisbon, on the sandy soils next to the Atlantic. The wines are made from the native Ramisco grape, which produces rich and concentrated red wines with plenty of tannins and good acidity.

The region is best known for its distinctive location. Because of the sandy soil, the vines in Colares managed to survive the phylloxera that devastated European vineyards in the 19th century, which makes Colares one of the rare European regions with ungrafted vines—the vines that are not grafted to American rootstock. 

Ramisco is a red grape native to Portugal. It is mostly cultivated on the sandy soils of Colares appellation, located northwest of Lisbon. Ramisco typically produces wines that are high in acidity and tannins in their youth. The grape is only found in this region, so its features can only be discussed in the framework of the Colares appellation.

Ramisco wines usually have notes of dark fruit and violets. Most examples have a distinctive saline-like quality typically attributed to the regions’ proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Ramisco wines usually improve with age. Their somewhat harsh tannins will soften, and the wines generally become more balanced with earthy, floral, and herbal notes and a hint of spice.