Touriga Franca
Touriga Franca is a dark-skinned grape variety grown primarily in Portugal's Douro wine region. The grape is known for its use in the production of Port and dry red wines. Despite being widely planted, Touriga Franca is considered less prestigious than its cousin Touriga Nacional. The grape is more aromatic and light-bodied than Touriga Nacional, but does not have the same intensity and concentration to make it a stand-alone varietal. Touriga Franca is often blended with other grape varieties like Castelão, to make red wines. The origins of the grape are uncertain, but it is believed to be a mutation or crossing of Touriga Nacional with an unknown parent. In California and Australia, it is often referred to simply as Touriga.