Touriga Nacional
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 3–8 years from vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted lamb, grilled ribeye steak, aged hard cheeses
✨ Technical Specifications
Scheid Vineyards' exploration of Portuguese varieties led them to plant Touriga Nacional in the warm, sheltered microclimate of the Hames Valley AVA in southern Monterey County. Traditionally celebrated as the crown jewel of Portugal's Douro Valley and the backbone of fine Port wines, Touriga Nacional thrives in Hames Valley's intense daytime heat and dramatic evening cooling. Scheid crafts this grape into a rare, dry, single-varietal bottling. The wine is celebrated for its deep, opaque ink color, robust structure, and highly aromatic profile characterized by signature notes of violets, dark plums, and bergamot tea, refined by aging in oak barrels.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1972 by Al Scheid, Scheid Vineyards is a pioneering wine estate nestled in the heart of Monterey County's Salinas Valley in California. Over five decades, the family-owned operation has expanded across twelve distinct estate vineyards, leveraging the dramatic maritime cooling of the Monterey Bay to cultivate diverse grape varieties. Committed to forward-thinking stewardship, the winery is entirely powered by renewable wind energy and follows rigorous certified sustainable farming practices. Scheid Vineyards is celebrated for its diverse portfolio of vibrant white, red, and rosé wines, producing acclaimed varietal bottlings such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Albariño, and Barbera, alongside handcrafted cuvées like the Claret Reserve.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Touriga Nacional