Wine from Ribatejo

Until 2009, Ribatejo was a wine region in Portugal. After that time it became known as the Tejo region. Ribatejo covers the same areas as the province of Ribatejo getting its name from the Tejo River. The entire area uses the Vinho Regional designation. The river was renamed in order to increase the international reputation of Ribatejo.

The DOC has retained the name Ribatejo, which removed the old problem of having the identical name applied to wines with two different classification levels.  Ribatejo was hit extremely hard by the 1974 revolution. When this occurred, some winemakers didn’t do so well, while others were completely displaced.

Located between the Alentejo VRs and the Lisboa, the Tagus river dominates the region, the river is responsible for the climate of the region which makes it much more temperate and fertile than other regions in Portugal.

The vineyards in Ribatejo are planted in the fertile plains along the river in the alluvial soil. The region is also known for producing an abundance of crops. Wine making in Portugal dates back to Roman times when the winemakers in the region exported their reds and whites all over Europe. By the end of the 13th century, Ribatejo shipped almost 60,000 barrels of wine to England every year.