Beiras is a Portuguese wine

Portuguese wine

Portuguese wine is the result of traditions introduced to the region by ancient civilizations, such as the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, and mostly the Romans. Portugal started to export its wines to Rome during the Roman Empire. Modern exports developed with trade to England after the...

 region covering the same areas as its namesake region. The region is classified as a Vinho Regional (VR), a designation similar to a French vin de pays

Vin de pays

Vin de pays is a French term meaning "country wine". Vins de pays are a step in the French wine classification which is above the table wine classification, but below the VDQS and Appellation d'origine contrôlée classifications...

region. Located in the northern regions of Portugal

Portugal

Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...

, Beiras produces wines of every imaginable style including sparkling and fortified wine

Fortified wine

Fortified wine is wine to which a distilled beverage has been added. Fortified wine is distinguished from spirits made from wine in that spirits are produced by means of distillation, while fortified wine is simply wine that has had a spirit added to it...

s but quality varies dramatically depending on producer and region.

Wine regions

Within the Beiras region there exists the following wine regions at IPR or DOC level:

• Dão DOC
• Bairrada DOC
• Beira Interior DOC
  Beira Interior DOC
  Beira Interior is a Portuguese wine Denominação de Origem Controlada located in central Portugal in the Beiras VR wine region. It was created in 2005 when three Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada regions were put together into one DOC....
  
  , with the following three subregions:
  • Castelo Rodrigo, formerly a separate IPR
  • Cova de Beira, formerly a separate IPR
  • Pinhel, formerly a separate IPR
• Lafoes IPR
  Lafões IPR
  Lafões is a Portuguese wine region, near Viséu, overlapping into the Dão and Vinho Verde DOCs. The region has the second tier Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada classification and may some day be promoted to Denominação de Origem Controlada...
  
  
• Távora-Varosa DOC
  Távora-Varosa DOC
  Távora-Varosa is a Portuguese wine region located in the northwestern section of the Beiras region. The region is designated as Denominação de Origem Controlada after it was promoted from its former Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada status, when it was called Varosa IPR...
  
  
• Encostas da Nave IPR
• Encostas d'Aire DOC-overlaps with the Lisboa VR

Grapes

The principle grapes of the Beiras region includes Arinto

Arinto

Arinto or Arinto de Bucelas is a white Portuguese wine grape planted primarily in the Bucelas, Tejo and Vinho Verde regions. It can produce high acid wines with lemon notes.-Synonyms:...

, Baga

Baga (grape)

Baga is a red Portuguese wine grape variety planted primarily in the Bairrada DOC. As a varietal, Baga produces tannic wines with high acidity.-Synonyms:...

, Bastardo, Borrado das Moscas, Camarate, Cerceal, Esgana Cao, Fernao Pires

Fernão Pires

Fernão Pires is a white Portuguese wine grape grown throughout Portugal but most notable in the Tejo and Bairrada where it is also known as "Maria Gomes". This varietal is known to produce wines with a spicy aromatic character, though often with delicate exotic fruity notes...

, Jaen, Malvasia

Malvasia

Malvasia is a group of wine grape varieties grown historically in the Mediterranean region, Balearic islands, Canary Islands and the island of Madeira, but now grown in many of the winemaking regions of the world...

, Marufo, Monvedro, Periquita

Periquita

Periquita , also known as Castelão and João de Santarém, is a red wine grape found primarily in the south coastal regions but is grown all over Portugal and is sometimes used in Port wine production. The name is derived from the Portuguese term for parakeet. The vine thrives in sandy soils but is...

, Rabo de Ovelha

Rabo de Ovelha

Rabo de Ovelha is white Portuguese wine grape variety that is grown all over Portugal. It should not be confused with the red Rabo de Anho grape variety that is found in the Vinho Verde region. Rabo de Ovelha is an authorized grape variety in the Bairrada, Borba, Bucelas, Redondo, Reguengos,...

, Rufete, Tinta Amarela

Tinta Amarela

Tinta Amarela is a red wine grape that is commonly used in Port wine production. The grape is noted for its dark coloring. Its use in the Douro region has been increasing in recent years. The vine is susceptible to rot and performs better in dry, hot climates....

, Touriga Nacional

Touriga Nacional

Touriga Nacional is a variety of red wine grape, considered by many to be Portugal's finest. Despite the low yields from its small grapes, it plays a big part in the blends used for ports, and is increasingly being used for table wine in the Douro and Dão. Touriga Nacional provides structure and...

 and Vital.