VR Terras do Sado

Region named after the Sado river in west central Portugal. The region has a total vineyard area of 20.000 hectares, and includes the Peninsula Sétubal, bordering on the capital of Lisbon, (with the two DOC regions Palmela and Setúbal) as well as a large area to the south of this, along the Atlantic coast. The region was defined for quality wine production in 1907, making it the second such region after Porto, and is today classified as a Vinho Regional (VR). White wines are made from Antão Vaz, Arinto, Chardonnay, Esgana Cão, Fernão Pires, Malvasia Fina (Assario), Moscatel de Setúbal (Muscat d´Alexandrie), Rabo de Ovelha, Roupeiro, Talia (Ugni Blanc), Trincadeira das Pratas and Sauvignon Blanc, usually as blends. Red wines are made from Aragonez (Tinta Roriz = Tempranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Moscatel Roxo, Periquita (Castelão Frances), Tinta Amarela (Trincadeira Preta), Touriga Nacional and others, usually as blends. The wines are produced in dry, semi-sweet and noble late harvest version. The best-known producers are Adega de Pegões, Caves Alianca, Fonseca, J. P. Vinhos (Fonseca), Quinta da Bacalhôa (Fonseca) and Quinta de Camarate (Fonseca).