Bairrada DOC facts for kids

Bairrada is a special area in Portugal known for making delicious wines. It is located near the coast in a region called Beira Litoral Province. Bairrada has the highest official rating for its wines in Portugal. This means its wines are very good quality.

This area is quite small and narrow, right by the Atlantic Ocean. The ocean helps keep the weather mild and rainy. This kind of weather is called a maritime climate. Even though the region has some hills, most of the grapevines grow on flatter land.

Bairrada is famous for its sparkling wines, which are bubbly like soda! About two-thirds of all the sparkling wine made in Portugal comes from here. Because of this, the city of Anadia is even called the "Sparkling Wine Capital."

The region also makes red wines that are often deep in color. These red wines can taste like bell pepper or black currant. Bairrada is also starting to become known for its tasty rosé wines.

The Bairrada wine region includes several towns. These are Anadia, Cantanhede, Mealhada, and Oliveira do Bairro. Some parts of Vagos, Coimbra, and a small area in Aveiro are also included.

History of Bairrada Wine

People have been growing grapes in Bairrada for a very long time. We know this started at least in the 10th century. This was after the region became free from the Moors.

In the 1600s, Bairrada became more important. This was because Port wine makers in Porto needed more wine for the growing market in Britain. They would mix Bairrada wines with their own wines from the Douro region.

Special Grapes of Bairrada

The most important grape in Bairrada is called Baga. The special soil and weather here help this grape grow very well. Baga grapes are known for being a bit tart and strong. They are used to make both red wines and sparkling wines.

Other red grapes grown here include Alfrocheiro-Preto, Tinta Pinheira, and Touriga Nacional. Some international red grapes like Merlot and Syrah are also grown.

For white wines, the main grapes are Portuguese varieties. These include Arinto, Bical, Cercial, and Maria Gomes. The well-known international grape Chardonnay is also grown in Bairrada.

See also

In Spanish: Bairrada para niños