DOC area in the east of the Beiras region in Portugal. It was formed in 2005 by merging the former three IPR areas (former DOC precursor) Castelo Rodrigo in the south, and Cova da Beira and Pinhel in the north. The large area stretches close to the border with Spain and comprises around 15,000 hectares of vineyards, of which only about a tenth is used for wine production. The three sub-zones show a significant temperature gradient. The harsh climate is characterised by long and cold winters in the north and extremely hot summers in the south. The main red wine varieties are Aragonez(Tempranillo), Bastardo(Monvedro), Concieira, Marufo, Rufete, Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira Preta. The main white wine varieties are Alicante Branco(Damaschino), Arinto, Bical, Assario Branco(Malvasia Fina), Periquita(Castelão Francês), Rabo de Ovelha, Síria and Tamarez. The production is dominated by large cooperatives.
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Technischer Lehrer, staatl. geprüfter Sommelier, Hotelfachschule Heidelberg