Grape Vines in Portugal

Grape vines are just about everywhere you look in Portugal - from vast vineyards with row upon row of them to individual mature ones carefully supported to create shade on houses.

On first seeing a mature grape vine in the winter months you could be forgiven for thinking the gnarled trunk is dead and they are not so pleasing to the ye. However come the spring, when the buds start sprouting, you will see why grape vines in Portugal are so popular.

Not only do grape vines produce juicy bite-sized fruits, they also provide the perfect, dappled shade when grown on a patio and can be made into wine. However make sure you pick an eating grape and not a wine grape as it could leave a sour taste in your mouth.

If you're not sure how to tell the difference between the two grape vine varieties there is a simple rule of thumb. Grape vines which have been planted to let their runners, run are in general the eating variety; whereas grape vines neatly trimmed with wire supports are usually for making wine.

Wine making grape vines usually produce smaller grapes which are more concentrated in sugar. Eating variety grape vines have larger, bulbous grapes with a lower sugar content. Although you won't have any adverse effect from eating a wine variety grape, aside from a rather sour taste in your mouth