Touriga Nacional vs Touriga Franca
Touriga Nacional
A firmly tannic, deeply colored Portuguese black grape scented with violet and bergamot, central to Port and to the Douro's dry reds.
- Firm tannin
- Deep color
- Violet and bergamot
Recognize it
Deep color and firm tannin with unusually floral perfume for such a structured red. Violet, bergamot and dark berry fruit are common.
Touriga Franca
A perfumed Douro red grape with red and black fruit and firm tannin, and a major partner to Touriga Nacional in Port and dry reds.
- Red plum
- Floral
- Firm tannin
Recognize it
Full body with medium acidity and firm but polished tannin. Red and black fruit with rose and violet perfume are common. It is generally less dense and less tannic than Touriga Nacional, but it is not a soft-tannin grape.
How they compare
- SimilarBoth are structured, aromatic Douro grapes.
- DifferenceTouriga Nacional is generally darker and more concentrated, while Touriga Franca is often rounder and more red-fruited.