Colares

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.

Sandy soils produce tannin-rich wines with subtle astringency. The aroma is reminiscent of red fruit, with some floral and herbal nuances. The best examples will age well, retaining their good balance of acidity and tannins. Although Colares was one of the most famous Portuguese wines in the early 20th century, the production has been slowly declining.  Read more