Authorised grape varieties for Port

[Alex Bridgeman]

Does anyone have, or can point me to, a list of the permitted varieties of grapes which can be used in Port production?

I’m sure one must exist on the IVDP website, but I can’t find it!

[PhilW]

Great question; one for the producers perhaps; though their websites, and other suppliers, have a wonderful array of different answers...

Taylor's website: "around thirty grape varieties can be used to make Port"
Sandeman's website: "There are over one hundred grape varieties authorised for Port Wine production"
BBR's website: "There are around 40 different grape varieties permitted in the production of Port"
MWH's website: "there are an astonishing 112 recommended and permitted varieties"
Corney & Barrow's website: "more than 80 different permitted grape varieties"
Wine Searcher's website: "There are roughly 80 permitted in Red Port and almost 50 in White Port"

[Mike J. W.]

Does anyone have, or can point me to, a list of the permitted varieties of grapes which can be used in Port production?

I’m sure one must exist on the IVDP website, but I can’t find it!

The pdf is is Portuguese, but maybe it's this?
https://files.dre.pt/1s/2017/12/24300/0665906661.pdf

And the broader link that referenced it...
https://www.ivdp.pt/pt/comunicacao/guia ... -da-vinha/

[Glenn E.]

I don't know whether or not this is 100% accurate, but it has served for me in the past.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Port_wine_grapes

Does anyone have, or can point me to, a list of the permitted varieties of grapes which can be used in Port production?

I’m sure one must exist on the IVDP website, but I can’t find it!

The pdf is is Portuguese, but maybe it's this?
https://files.dre.pt/1s/2017/12/24300/0665906661.pdf

And the broader link that referenced it...
https://www.ivdp.pt/pt/comunicacao/guia ... -da-vinha/

Based on my limited Portuguese, this does appear to be the official list.

[Glenn E.]

Great question; one for the producers perhaps; though their websites, and other suppliers, have a wonderful array of different answers...

Taylor's website: "around thirty grape varieties can be used to make Port"
Sandeman's website: "There are over one hundred grape varieties authorised for Port Wine production"
BBR's website: "There are around 40 different grape varieties permitted in the production of Port"
MWH's website: "there are an astonishing 112 recommended and permitted varieties"
Corney & Barrow's website: "more than 80 different permitted grape varieties"
Wine Searcher's website: "There are roughly 80 permitted in Red Port and almost 50 in White Port"

If Mike's list is correct (and it looks like it is to me), then there are 115 varieties. Unfortunately it's a single list and I'm not prepared to count white vs red right at the moment, but I believe Winesearcher's information is pretty close - it's roughly 80 red varieties and ... I guess 35? white varieties.

This is like asking producers "what are the main grapes used to make Port?" They'll all tell you that there are 5 main ones, but if you then ask "what are those 5" you'll get a different answer from every producer. I think there are really 3 main ones - Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz, and then every producer has their own favorite 2-3 other grapes that mostly come from Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Cao, Tinta Francisca, and Sousao.

[jdaw1]

Great question; great answers.

[Mike J. W.]

This begs another question. Many of the older Ports used "field blends". From what I've read, sometimes they didn't know what some of the grapes might be. I believe there's still some field blends still being produced today on a more limited basis. Has the IVDP identified all of the grapes that are being used or have been used in Port on the market?

[Glenn E.]

This begs another question. Many of the older Ports used "field blends". From what I've read, sometimes they didn't know what some of the grapes might be. I believe there's still some field blends still being produced today on a more limited basis. Has the IVDP identified all of the grapes that are being used or have been used in Port on the market?

Likely answer: no.

Possibly apocryphal story: Quinta do Crasto's most important vineyard is Maria Teresa. It faces East (up river) on the slope that runs down from the house to the ravine. It's the vineyard you can see most often in virtually every picture of Quinta do Crasto that's taken from the river, or especially from Quinta Sao Luis across the river.

Because it is so important to them, they decided that they needed to completely document every vine in the vineyard and create duplicates elsewhere on the property. That way if one of the vines dies for whatever reason, it can be replaced. In the process of doing this, they also genetically identified every vine.

Except for 1. It was an old vine down near the ravine away from the river. It wasn't in any database. No one knew what it was. They researched for a couple of weeks and simply could not identify it.

Then one day while a couple of people were standing around discussing the mystery vine, an old farmhand overheard them and asked which vine they were talking about. They explained, and the farmhand replied and identified the grape. They were, of course, shocked and asked how he could possibly know exactly what they were talking about.

"Because my great grandfather planted that vine."

I suspect that applies to a lot of vines in the Douro valley.

[MigSU]

Does anyone have, or can point me to, a list of the permitted varieties of grapes which can be used in Port production?

I’m sure one must exist on the IVDP website, but I can’t find it!

The pdf is is Portuguese, but maybe it's this?
https://files.dre.pt/1s/2017/12/24300/0665906661.pdf

And the broader link that referenced it...
https://www.ivdp.pt/pt/comunicacao/guia ... -da-vinha/

This here be the list.
Notice that some varieties are allowed in Douro DOC but not in Port.
Another side note: just because a variety is allowed doesn't mean it's recommended. How do they discourage its usage, you might ask? Simple: they cut your benefício when you plant those varieties

[Glenn E.]

Notice that some varieties are allowed in Douro DOC but not in Port.

Excellent point. A quick scan says that there are 5 allowed for Douro DOC but not allowed for Port, leaving 110 official Port grape varieties.

Also, assuming my poor eyesight didn't blip incorrectly, I just counted 50 Branco grapes which would leave only 60 Tinto grapes allowed.

[MigSU]

^^ I think there are 50 white and 65 red varieties, with 64 of those reds being allowed in Port (sorry Pinot Noir, you're only good enough for Douro DOC sparkling wine).

[Glenn E.]

^^ I think there are 50 white and 65 red varieties, with 64 of those reds being allowed in Port (sorry Pinot Noir, you're only good enough for Douro DOC sparkling wine).

Ah yes.

115 total grapes. The Douro DOC-only grapes are 1 red and 4 white.

So...

65 red, of which 64 are allowed in Port.
50 white, of which 46 are allowed in Port.