Tinta Roriz, the great wine caste of the Iberian Peninsula

If we ask any Portuguese winemaker which is the main wine grape variety of the Iberian Peninsula he surely won’t remember to mention Tinta Roriz. But if we ask the same question to the Spanish winemakers they will categorically say, in unison, that it’s Tempranillo, officially recognized synonym for Tinta Roriz. The fact that the name Tinta Roriz doesn’t appear in the exhaustive wine varieties lists made in the 19th century seems that its introduction took place after phylloxera, but that didn’t happen. This wine grape variety has been known and appreciated among us, particularly in Alentejo, for centuries by the name of Aragonez. Thus, the priority given to the term Aragonez in the official Portuguese wine grape varieties list is justified, although the institutional weight of the Douro region, where it is highly cultivated, has imposed the two names on the official list. In the Dão region, the wine caste is a recent introduction and Cardoso de Vilhena, from the Nelas Studies Center is responsible for its capacities recognition and, consequently, its recommendation to winegrowers.

From the winemaking point of view it’s appreciated by the winemakers because it’s generous and consistent to produce; however, inconveniences are pointed out. The first and main inconvenience is: the larger the production the lower its quality. It also shows an abnormal behaviour in hotter years even though it’s resistant to water shortage. In the most suitable areas of Douro, Beira Interior and Dão it has been vinified with excellent results, which sometimes remind us of the great wines of Ribera del Duero. Enologically, Tinta Roriz is evidenced by the power of its tannins, aromatic delicacy and balanced acidity levels (when not overripe) which make the young wines aggressive in the mouth but provide an unparalleled aging potential. It’s also especially suitable for the rosés production, which are very aromatic and fresh, as long as the grapes are harvested early.