Ribatejo (Vinho Regional)

The Ribatejo, east of Lisbon, is a fertile agricultural area that grows lots of grains, melons, oranges, legumes, apples, corn and tomatoes.

Still nearly 90,000 acres are covered with wines producing about 8 million cases of wine a year. These are mainly white, with fewer than 1 million cases of red.

Ribatejo reds are predominantly made from the Castelao Frances, a fine, aromatic variety. The region's other grapes, used in smaller amounts, are the Baga and Castelao, which are associated primarily with the Bairrada region, and Trincadeira Preta, the local name for the Tinta Amarela of the Douro.

Wines made from throughout the region can be labeled Vinho Reginal Ribatejo, or if they meet certain qualifications, they can list one of the smaller IPR regions: Almeirim, Cartaxo, Chamusca, Santarem, Tomar and Coruche.