Ramisco

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.

Because of the sandy soils in Colares, Ramisco is one of the rare European grapes that survived the phylloxera epidemic.