Alvarelhão is one of Portugal's older grape varieties and is primarily found in the country's northern wine-growing regions such as Vinho Verde, Douro or Dão. He probably comes from there too. The name Alvarelhão also occurs in the Valencia region of Spain, but there it refers to a white grape variety called Planta Nova, which has no connection with the Portuguese Alvarelhão. However, it is probably related to the Sercial, the variety that stands for high-quality, fortified wines in Madeira. The Alvarelhão grapes are relatively loose and not very compact, and the berries are quite thin-skinned. The variety is vigorous in growth, but is highly susceptible to powdery mildew. It sprouts early and matures after a medium-long ripening period. Until the 1970s, Alvarelhão was widespread in the north of Portugal and was used to produce dry red wines as well as port wines. In the northern Vinho Verde, red wines and, in the meantime, rosé wines are produced from the Alvarelhão. In fact, however, it is declining sharply, so that there are probably only around 100 hectares still in production. Outside Spain, the variety is still cultivated on a small scale in Galicia in northwestern Spain under the name Brancellao. In California's Central Valley it is still used on a small scale to produce port-style fortified wines; in Australia's Yarra Valley it is an ingredient in Yarra Yering's cuvée of "Dry Red No. 3".
This grape variety is also known by the name of:
Alvarelhao, Alvarelhão Ceitão, Brancelho
