Alfrocheiro Preto

Alfrocheiro Preto is one of Portugal's great undersung red grapes, native to the granite hills of the Dao region in the country's mountainous interior. It produces wines of deep colour, lively acidity and fragrant red fruit, with a savoury, mineral edge that comes from the Dao's poor, schist and granite soils and its high-altitude, continental climate of warm days and cool nights. The Maias Tinto Dao DOC shows this character well: a Dao red built around Alfrocheiro alongside other indigenous varieties, with the freshness and structure that make Dao reds such reliable food wines. These are not big, jammy reds, but wines with grip and brightness that age gracefully and stay interesting over a meal. This style suits roast lamb, grilled pork, game, and the kind of slow-cooked stews where a wine needs both fruit and acidity to cut through richness. It is also a good match for hard, salty cheeses and charcuterie, making it a versatile bottle for the table.