🍇 Castelão
A red grape of Portugal: 13,000 ha, 6.5 % of the vineyards (2015), third by area; the backbone of red Palmela wine.
Castelão is a red wine grape from Portugal and one of the most widespread in the country. According to the OIV, in 2015 it covered 13,000 ha, or 6.5 % of Portugal's vineyards, which put it in third place among all varieties. Its best-known wine is Palmela from the Setúbal Peninsula.
According to DNA markers, Castelão's parents are Cayetana Blanca and Alfrocheiro. Among its 26 synonyms in VIVC are Periquita and João de Santarém, so it may also turn up on labels under these names. The catalogue lists Castelão as a wine and table grape.
The variety's area is gradually shrinking: VIVC records 20,315 ha in Portugal (1989), 20,500 ha (2007) and 18,550 ha (2010). At the same time Castelão is often used in breeding: VIVC lists 60 varieties that have it as one of their parents.
The technical file of the Palmela appellation requires Castelão to make up at least 66.7 % of the grape juice in red wine. These wines are described as full-bodied and deep garnet, with aromas of red berries and jam, dried fruit and spice; with ageing they soften. The vineyards here are mostly on light sandy soils.
Why it matters to you. Periquita and João de Santarém on a label are the same grape as Castelão. Red Palmela is at least two-thirds Castelão. Red wines are served at 15–18 °C and stored lying down, in the dark, at 10–16 °C.
Facts
| Country | Portugal |
|---|---|
| Region | Portugal: 13,000 ha, 6.5 % (2015); Palmela |
| Main use | wine and table grape |
How it connects to Wine
🍇 Castelão → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Traditions
- 🌍 Southern Europe
- Part of
- 🍇 Grape varieties
- Origin
- 🗺️ Portuguese wine
- Where it grows
- 📍 Setúbal, 📍 Tejo, 📍 Lisboa, 📍 Alenquer, 📍 Torres Vedras, 📍 Óbidos, 📍 Setúbal Peninsula, 📍 Palmela, 📍 Moura, 📍 Algarve
- Main grape in
- 📜 Encostas d'Aire, 📍 Palmela, 📍 Alenquer, 📍 Setúbal Peninsula, 📍 Tejo
- Parents
- 🍇 Cayetana Blanca, 🍇 Alfrocheiro
Frequently asked questions
How much Castelão is there in Portugal?
13,000 ha, 6.5 % of the vineyards (2015, OIV); it is the country's third grape.
Is it true that Periquita is a separate variety?
No. According to VIVC, Periquita is a synonym of Castelão, as is João de Santarém.
What are Castelão's parents?
Cayetana Blanca and Alfrocheiro, according to DNA markers (VIVC).
How much Castelão is in Palmela wine?
In the red, at least 66.7 % of the grape juice (Palmela file).
What wine does Castelão give in Palmela?
Full-bodied and garnet, with red berries, dried fruit and spice; it softens with age.
What to read next
- 🗺️ Portuguese wine — The country's wine and winemaking: regions, grapes, appellations.
- 📍 Tejo — Central Portugal along the Tejo river: six PDO sub-regions and about 2,800 hours of sun a year.
- 🌍 Southern Europe — The Mediterranean south of Europe — Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal: sheep's and goat's milk cheeses and most of the world's olive oil.
- 📍 Moura — A southern subzone by the Guadiana.
- 📍 Alenquer — A sheltered valley with red wines.
Similar
🍇 Arinto · 🍇 Touriga Nacional · 🍇 Mencía · 🍇 Alfrocheiro · 🍇 Verdelho · 🍇 Alicante Bouschet
Sources
- eAmbrosia — technical file: PDO «Palmela» (Ares(2011)1405175)
- VIVC (Vitis International Variety Catalogue): passport Castelão
- VIVC: area statistics CASTELAO
- VIVC: pedigree search — offspring of CASTELAO
- OIV Focus 2017: Distribution of the world's grapevine varieties
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (grape varieties on labels)
- Simons C.T. Left out in the cold: Serving wines chilled. Temperature, 2019
- Purdue Extension FS-58-W: Wine storage