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The Tejo region of Portugal is defined by the river that shares its name. Also known as the Tagus, it winds its way through fertile plains before reaching its destination of the vast estuary south of Lisbon.

Known until 2009 as Ribatejo, the region has reaped many cultural and economic benefits from its proximity to such an important body of water. Tourists have no shortage of historical treasures to explore, from Roman ruins and Gothic castles to Manueline monasteries and medieval hilltop villages.

From an agricultural perspective, Tejo is known as the land of vineyards, olive groves, cork forests, Mertolengo cattle and the famous Lusitano horses. Vineyards have been a feature of the Tejo valley since Roman times and provide the perfect conditions for many of Portugal’s wealth of native grapes.

That’s Tejo, in a nutshell. But to understand the region properly, we need to focus on its four main terroirs.

Bairro

This sub-region is located north of the Tejo river. Its highlands are comprised of rolling hills and

Portugal’s

sweeping plains, rich with limestone and clay soils, which particularly suits red varieties.

Tomar Schists

Further north, near the city of Tomar, there are some isolated schist deposits encouraging the vines to put down deeper roots. Here the altitudes are much more irregular than in the rest of the region, with vineyards planted as high as 400m above sea level.

Charneca

To the south of the Tejo, the Charneca is a dry, flat area marked by poor, sandy soils that force the vines to struggle, and in turn produce more complex fruit. In this zone, higher temperatures compel the grapes to mature faster than in the rest of the Tejo region.

Campo

This sub-region, best known for its white grapes, lies along the very edges of the Tejo riverbanks. This proximity to the river creates a more maritime climate, moderating the temperature and helping to contribute to the fruitiness, acidity and freshness in the wines. The alluvial soils of these plains provide good drainage and sustain the many vineyards located here.