| Alvarelhão is
a red wine grape grown in northern
Portugal.
History
Alvarelhão must have originated in northern
Portugal, but little is known of its ancestry.
DNA studies have shown some similarity to Esgana
Cão.
Distribution and Wines
Portugal
In Portugal there are 470 hectares of either
Alvarelhão or the grape called Brancelho.[2]
It is blended into red wine in the Dão
region. It is said to be part of the port wine
blend in the Douro, although it is not mentioned
on the IVDP website as one of the main 11 red
grapes of the Douro.]
USA
There have been some experiments with the port
grapes in California. It is possible that some
vines have been misidentified, as the University
of California, Davis clone Alvarelhão FPMS
02 has now been confirmed as a Touriga Nacional.
Vine and Viticulture
Having evolved in the Dão, the vine is
both rough and hardy, having strong defenses against
temperature extremes and inclement weather.
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