Caiño tinto

Red wine grapePortugal

The style profiled here is a dry, light-bodied red Caiño tinto wine: tart, herbal, Atlantic red. Typical alcohol is 11 to 12.5%. Serve it at 13 to 15 °C.

Also called Borraçal.

The grape

Caiño tinto is a red grape of Galicia in northwestern Spain, part of the local Atlantic wine tradition rather than a synonym for the better known white Albariño. Its name should also be kept separate from Caíño blanco. The shared word connects a naming history, but the colours identify different grapes and different wine possibilities.

Freshness is an important part of the red grape's appeal, and it may appear in a blend or as a rarer varietal wine. A lighter colour should not be treated as a complete guide to acidity or tannin. The producer's handling of extraction decides how directly the fruit is presented and how firm the finished wine feels.

For a first taste, seek a dry bottle with the grape proportion explained and try it with poultry, pork, mushrooms or cured meat. A modest chill can help a fresher version, while excessive cold may make its grip seem harder. Keep the full grape name in your notes when comparing it with other Galician wines.

BuyingLook for Caiño tinto in Galician red selections. Check the blend and do not confuse it with Caíño blanco or another grape sharing part of the name.

Style profile

Our rating of a representative wine
Sweetness
Bone dry
Body
Light
Tannin
Medium
Acidity
Very high

Sweetness and structure vary with the producer, region and winemaking. These ratings describe the style above; check the label for the bottle in front of you.

Food pairings

Where it grows

Notable regions
Vinho Verde

Similar grapes

Sources