Touriga Francesa

It is one of the most representative varieties of red grapes for red wine in Portugal. If Touriga Nacional is Cabernet Sauvignon, then Touriga Francesa is often compared to Cabernet Franc.

In fact, compared to Touriga Nacional, it is lighter and more aromatic, which helps give the wine its delicacy.

Its origins are unclear, and although its name includes the word "France," it does not appear to be native to France. It is also cultivated in California and Australia, but is never made into a single-varietal wine, and is generally blended.

This is a variety that likes heat, is generally resistant to disease and fungi, and produces very high yields, making it easy for grape growers to grow. However, the tightly packed clusters of grapes can be susceptible to downy mildew.

On the other hand, if the weather is cool or the harvest is too large, the sugar content will naturally decrease, so in the steep fields of the Douro region, the vines are trained very low to suppress growth.

The clusters are cylindrical and the kernels are round and bluish-black in color.

The scents are mainly berry scents such as strawberry, raspberry, and mulberry, but there are also floral scents such as rose and violet, and herbal scents.

Compared to Touriga Nacional, it has a lighter body, smoother tannins, and a better balance of acidity. When blended with Touriga Nacional or Tinta Roriz, it is like Touriga The added aroma and delicacy of Francesa results in a wine with a more complex and refined flavor.

Turiga As a general rule, there is no wine that can be finished using Francesa alone, so here we will introduce the pairing of red wine Douro with sweet fortified wine Porto.

First of all, Douro red wine has firm tannins, fruitiness, and structure, so it is recommended to enjoy stewed meat dishes and roasts with rich sauces. Porto can be enjoyed as an aperitif on its own, or it goes well with chocolate or chocolate-based desserts.