Touriga Franca

Touriga Franca is a cross of Marufo and Touriga Nacional, with the pedigree confirmed by markers. VIVC records Portugal as its likely country of origin and lists the variety under the prime name Touriga Franca, variety number 12593; for now the pedigree and origin rest on that single source. In the VIVC-derived lineage data, Touriga Franca is a full sibling of Tinta Barroca.

• Parents: Marufo x Touriga Nacional, pedigree confirmed by markers (single source)
• Country of origin: Portugal (likely)
• VIVC prime name: Touriga Franca; VIVC variety number: 12593
• Full sibling in VIVC-derived lineage data: Tinta Barroca

Touriga Franca is the principal name of the variety in the official list of grape varieties authorized in the Douro Demarcated Region, which gives Touriga Francesa as its synonym. Its parents are Marufo and Touriga Nacional, and Tinta Barroca shares the same parentage.

• Synonym in the Douro's authorized-variety list: Touriga Francesa
• Parents: Marufo and Touriga Nacional
• Tinta Barroca is a full sibling in VIVC-derived lineage data

Touriga Franca is the most widely planted grape in the Douro Demarcated Region, at 10,727 hectares or 25% of its vineyard area in IVDP data for 2023. It is now much planted right across the northern half of Portugal.

• Most widely planted grape in the Douro
• Much planted across the northern half of Portugal

Touriga Franca makes richly coloured, dense yet elegant wines with copious blackberry fruit and floral notes of roses, rock roses and wild flowers. Its firm but velvety tannins contribute to the ageing potential of blends.

Touriga Franca is one of the structural pillars of red Douro blends and plays an important role in both Port and the Douro's still wines. It is one of the five officially recommended grapes for Port, and it is often blended with Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional.

• One of the five officially recommended grapes for Port
• Often blended with Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional
• Important in both Port and still Douro wines

Chryseia is made at its producers' winery at Quinta de Roriz from Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca. Quinta do Crasto makes Quinta do Crasto Touriga Franca from 100% Touriga Franca, bottled only in years when the harvest reaches a high level of quality.

• Chryseia: Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, made at Quinta de Roriz
• Quinta do Crasto Touriga Franca: 100% Touriga Franca, bottled only in high-quality years

Touriga Franca has medium or large bunches with medium-sized, rounded berries. It crops regularly and is quite resistant to disease, and it is popular in the vineyard for its resistance to pests and diseases and its reliably good crops of healthy grapes.

• Medium or large bunches with medium-sized, rounded berries
• Regular yields; quite resistant to disease

Primary sources: https://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=passport%2Fview&id=12593 ; https://winesofportugal.com/en/portuguese-wines/grape-varieties/touriga-franca/ ; https://www.ivdp.pt/pt/vinha/castas/ ; https://www.ivdp.pt/media/1zdjqaso/castas-autorizadas-e-recomendadas-na-rdd.pdf ; https://www.quintadocrasto.pt/quinta-crasto-touriga-franca/?lang=en ; https://www.chryseia.com/chryseia Reference sources: https://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/grape-varieties/red/touriga-franca Last verified 2026-10-20