Portugieser Red Wine + Rosé Wine
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Grape Variety Portugieser – Fruity, Soft and Versatile

Portugieser is one of the traditional red grape varieties in German viticulture and ranks among the most widely planted. After Dornfelder and Pinot Noir, it holds third place in vineyard area among red grape varieties.

Typical Portugieser wines are fruity, softly structured reds with mild acidity and a ruby-red colour. With careful yield regulation – as practised in our winery – the variety produces dense, harmonious red wines with fine fruitiness.

Portugieser wines are popular and versatile everyday wines that pair well with food. They complement hearty gratins, pasta dishes, pizza as well as beef, game or a rustic snack with ham and cheese.

Rosé + Red Wine

At Weingut Fuchs, Portugieser is produced both as a dry red wine and as a fruity rosé.

Vineyard Sites of Portugieser at Weingut Fuchs

Our Portugieser vines grow at several warm vineyard sites on both sides of the “border” between the Palatinate and Rheinhessen. These locations provide favourable conditions for reliable ripening and balanced fruit development of this early-ripening variety.

Origin of Portugieser

Despite its name, the original origin of Portugieser is believed to lie in the region of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. From there, the variety spread to German wine-growing regions during the 19th century.

Characteristics of the Variety

This red grape variety does not perform well on heavy or wet soils and is highly sensitive to winter frost.

Portugieser grapes ripen early; the large clusters are among the first to be harvested in a vintage. The plum-blue, thin-skinned berries are aromatic, and the juice itself is relatively light in colour.