Touriga Nacional is an iconic red grape variety, the pride of Portugal, where it reigns supreme across the steep valleys of the Douro. It is the cornerstone of great Port wines and the characterful red wines that make this region famous. Its presence in the Bordeaux vineyard, however, is a very recent novelty, devoid of any historical roots in the traditional varietal mix of our soils.

Its introduction to Bordeaux is directly linked to the imperative of adapting to the challenges of climate change. In 2021, Touriga Nacional was one of six grape varieties boldly selected – alongside Marselan, Arinarnoa, Alvarinho, Liliorila and Castets – and authorised on an experimental basis by the syndicates of the AOC Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur appellations. This choice responds to a pragmatic logic: Touriga Nacional is renowned for its excellent adaptation to hot and dry climates. It yields intensely coloured, concentrated wines with a solid tannic structure and complex aromatic richness, blending black fruits, floral notes of violet, and spices, all while managing the impressive feat of retaining noticeable freshness. These attributes make it a strong candidate to ensure the longevity of the typicity and complexity of Bordeaux red wines, at a time when summers are becoming increasingly hot (Source 5).

This authorisation therefore represents a proactive approach to technical adaptation—an exploration of new genetic resources to safeguard the future of our vineyard, as discussed by Jean-Baptiste Duquesne in his book (Source 1). It does not draw its legitimacy from our local history, but rather from a forward-looking vision.

Ampelographic sheet

Characteristic	Description
Budburst	Early
Flowering	Early
Véraison	Mid-early
Ripening	Mid to late
Vigour	Medium to high
Growth habit	Erect to semi-erect
Downy mildew susceptibility	Moderately susceptible
Powdery mildew susceptibility	Susceptible
Botrytis susceptibility	Moderately susceptible late in the season
Black rot susceptibility	Low susceptibility
Aromatic profile	Black fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry), floral notes (violet), spices (pepper, clove), balsamic notes
Winemaking potential	Deeply coloured, concentrated wines with good tannic structure and balanced acidity, suitable for barrel ageing and cellaring

At Château Cazebonne, we have made the choice not to replant Touriga Nacional. Because Bordeaux's ampelographic heritage is rich, and we see little point in replanting a Portuguese variety whose legitimacy would be hard to defend to our customers. Our philosophy therefore drives us to seek solutions and distinctive character primarily within Bordeaux's historical heritage. Our commitment is to bring forgotten grape varieties back to life—varieties that carry within them a legitimacy, a history, and an authenticity deeply rooted in our terroirs. It is by reviving extinct varieties such as Mancin, Pardotte, or Béquignol, which were once the wealth of our vineyards, that we wish not only to preserve a heritage, but also to offer new sensory perspectives. This work of memory and perseverance is only possible thanks to the invaluable support of the many wine lovers who have embraced our wines and share our passion for rediscovering Bordeaux's viticultural heritage.

To further your knowledge of this fascinating history, the book « Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages » by Jean-Baptiste Duquesne (Éditions BBD) is available in digital format to download—an excellent way as well to test your knowledge of our region's treasures. We also invite you to explore the Cazebonne boutique to discover our cuvées crafted from these rediscovered grape varieties.