IGP Tejo I.G.P. wines awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge

Indication géographique protégée

Tejo PGI stretches along the Tagus river valley, between the Lisboa and Alentejo wine regions, with the Serra de Aires e Candeeiros marking its northern boundary. The relief is gentle, with altitudes close to 200 metres. Soils fall into four main types: schist soils in the north, near Tomar; fertile alluvial soils on the plains periodically flooded by the Tagus; clay-limestone soils on the more uneven ground further north; and sandy soils in the south, towards the Alentejo. The climate is moderate, with average temperatures between 15 and 16.5°C, around 2,800 hours of sunshine a year and roughly 750 mm of annual rainfall. Plantings combine Portuguese and international varieties: fernão pires, the leading white grape, grows alongside arinto, chardonnay and sauvignon, while castelão is the dominant red variety, together with aragonês, trincadeira, touriga nacional and cabernet sauvignon.

The wines of this appellation

Tejo produces white, rosé, red and sparkling wines. The whites, made mainly from fernão pires and arinto, are fresh, with floral and tropical fruit aromas, a lively, balanced palate, and are best enjoyed young. The reds, built around castelão, aragonês and trincadeira, often blended with touriga nacional or cabernet sauvignon, are fruity with soft tannins and are generally drunk in their first years, though some varieties allow for longer ageing. The rosés show fruity, refreshing profiles. The whites pair with fish, seafood and light dishes, the rosés suit grilled food and Mediterranean cuisine, while the reds accompany meats, cured pork products and traditional Portuguese dishes.