Touriga Nacional is a red grape variety considered by many to be the best in Portugal. Despite its low yield due to its small grapes, it plays an important role in the blends used for Port wines and is increasingly used in table wines in the Douro and Dao regions. This grape brings structure and body to the wine, with intense tannins and concentrated flavors of black fruits.
According to Jancis Robinson, its relationship with Touriga Francesa is comparable to the association between Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, where the former provides structure and the latter enriches the bouquet. Touriga Nacional is known for its vigor, but it requires special care to keep it under control. In the Douro, it grows in steep vineyards where the heat is intense and the soil is more rock than earth. 
It’s common to train it using Guyot systems, and severe pruning is needed to maintain balance. Although it produces only a few clusters of small blue-black grapes, its yields are among the lowest among commercial varieties.
In recent years, scientists have been working on cloning Touriga Nacional with the aim of increasing yields by 15% and sugar content by 10%. This would allow for even more exceptional wines to be produced with this variety.
Wine Regions
In the 1990s, there were 2,760 hectares of Touriga Nacional in Portugal. Despite representing a small portion of wine production in the Douro due to its low yield, it plays an important role in the blends of the finest Port wines. Moreover, many wine producers in the United States have experimented with the use of Portuguese grapes to enhance the quality of their Ports.
Wines
The tiny berries of Touriga Nacional have a high skin-to-pulp ratio, intensifying the amount of extract in the wines. This grape can yield intense, highly aromatic wines with a high tannin content. Its concentration of black fruit flavors and its structure make it a highly regarded variety for crafting quality wines.
Synonyms
Touriga Nacional is also known by the following synonyms: Bical Tinto, Mortagua, Mortagua Preto, Preto Mortagua, Touriga, Touriga Fina, Tourigao, Tourigo Antigo, Tourigo do Dao, and Turiga.
Conclusion
Touriga Nacional is a gem in the world of red grapes. Its prominent role in Port wines and its increasing use in table wines in Portugal showcase its quality and versatility. With its structure, intense tannins, and concentrated flavors of black fruits, this variety offers wines of great complexity and elegance. If you’re a wine enthusiast, you mustn’t miss the opportunity to taste wines made with Touriga Nacional and discover all its wonders.
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