red grape · regional staple
Souzão
Minho region, Portugal
Say it
soh·zown
The -ão suffix is a nasal diphthong; the final syllable approximates 'own' with slight nasalization through the nose
On the palate
Body
light medium
Acidity
high
Tannin
medium minus
Aromatics
medium
raspberrypomegranateblack cherryblackberryvioletblack pepper
How you spot it blind: near-black pigment masking a bracingly light, high-acid red body
The story
First written down · late 18th century, Minho, Portugal
First recorded by Portuguese ampelographer Rebello da Fonseca around 1790 and quickly adopted in the Douro as a blending grape prized for the near-opaque color it contributes to Port.
Where it lives
Minho / Vinho Verde, Portugal · Douro, Portugal · Galicia, Spain (as Sousón) · Swartland, South Africa
Shows up as
still redfortified
If you like this, try
Also answers to Souzao.
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