Terra d’Alter Alicante Bouschet is a powerful red wine from Alentejo, made from a grape known for its deep color, firm structure, and dark fruit expression. The grapes are harvested late to allow the tannins to fully ripen before the wine undergoes its long maturation. The combination of clay, schist, long maceration, and 14 months of oak aging results in a full-bodied Portuguese red wine with notes of black fruit, spice, chocolate, and vanilla.
This wine comes from the Vinho Regional Alentejano, in the south of Portugal.
Location / Origin: Terra d’Alter works in the Alto Alentejo, around Fronteira, a part of Alentejo where the warm climate is well-suited for red grapes with high color and concentration.
Region: Vinho Regional Alentejano gives winemakers the freedom to present Alicante Bouschet as a single varietal, with a clear emphasis on the grape, structure, and regional origin.
Soil: The grapes grow on clay and schist. Clay helps the vine retain water during dry periods, while schist retains heat and contributes to ripe, concentrated grapes.
Vineyard & Harvest: The Alicante Bouschet is harvested as late as possible to fully develop the richness of the tannins and the deep fruit concentration.
The vinification is focused on color, depth, and a rich tannin structure.
Fermentation: The wine undergoes long maceration. What is maceration? This is the period during which juice and skins remain in contact, extracting color, tannins, and aromas from the grape skins.
Aging / Oak maturation: The wine matures for 14 months in barrels. This process rounds out the powerful structure and adds notes of vanilla and chocolate to the dark fruit.
Alcohol content: With 14.5% alcohol, this Alicante Bouschet has enough power to nicely carry the rich fruit concentration and oak aging.
This red Alentejo wine is entirely focused on Alicante Bouschet.
Alicante Bouschet – Vinho Regional Alentejano: Alicante Bouschet gives this wine its deep color, black fruit notes, spice, and firm tannin structure. The grape is unique because it has not only a dark skin but also colored flesh, which explains the wine's intense color.
