Castelão

Say it: kash-teh-LOWNG

Once the most planted red in southern Portugal. It shines on the sandy soils of Palmela, where it gives juicy, characterful reds. The synonym Periquita comes from the famous José Maria da Fonseca brand.

In the glassRedcurrant, plum, gamey and earthy notes; medium body.

Wines made with Castelão

Alentejo Red

Red

Alentejo DOC Tinto

Ripe, round, generous reds from a sunny inland plain, with soft tannins and dark fruit. Easy to enjoy young; the best estates make powerful wines that age well.

Critics: up to 92 pts

Vinho de Talha

Red

Talha wine

Wine fermented and aged in large clay amphorae (talhas), sealed inside with pitch or beeswax, a tradition kept alive in the Alentejo since Roman times. White, red and orange versions exist; the wine stays on its skins and cannot be drawn before 11 November.

Palmela Red

Red

Palmela DOC

Juicy, characterful reds built on Castelão grown on sandy soils around Palmela, often with red fruit, earthy and slightly gamey notes.

Producers to try

Quinta de Chocapalha

Alenquer · Lisboa

A family estate in the Alenquer hills. Winemaker Sandra Tavares da Silva also co-founded Wine & Soul in the Douro.

Quinta da Lagoalva

Alpiarça · Tejo

A large historic family estate known for good-value Tejo reds and whites, and for its horses.

Casal Branco

Almeirim · Tejo

A family estate on the left bank of the Tejo whose Falcoaria range is a regional benchmark.

José Maria da Fonseca

Est. 1834

Azeitão · Península de Setúbal, Alentejo

One of Portugal’s oldest table-wine producers. Makes Periquita, Lancers rosé and Moscatel de Setúbal with a cellar of 19th-century stock, plus talha wines at its José de Sousa estate in the Alentejo.

Bacalhôa Vinhos

Azeitão · Península de Setúbal, Alentejo, Douro

A large group based in Azeitão, named after the Renaissance Quinta da Bacalhôa. Known for Moscatel, Castelão and a Bordeaux-style red.