Comparison
Nebbiolo vs Touriga Nacional
How Nebbiolo and Touriga Nacional differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Nebbiolo has more earthy character; Touriga Nacional has more sweetness; Touriga Nacional has more fruit intensity.
Choose
Nebbiolo
Choose Nebbiolo if you want something earthier, more aromatic, fresher and more acidic.
Choose
Touriga Nacional
Choose Touriga Nacional if you want something sweeter, fruitier, fuller and richer.
Where they genuinely differ
Only differences large enough to notice in the glass are listed here. A gap of half a point on a five-point scale is noise, and WineHQ does not dress it up as a finding.
Earthy character
Clear differenceForest floor, mushroom, wet stone, clay and undergrowth notes. Frequently, though not exclusively, associated with cooler and more traditional styles.
Nebbiolo is earthier: medium-plus against low.
Sweetness
Clear differencePerceived sugar in the finished wine, driven mainly by residual sugar but modified by acidity, alcohol and fruit ripeness.
Touriga Nacional is sweeter: medium against low.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Touriga Nacional is fruitier: high against medium.
Aromatic intensity
Clear differenceHow strongly the wine smells before it is tasted. Some grapes are intrinsically aromatic; others express mainly on the palate.
Nebbiolo is more aromatic: high against medium.
Acidity
Clear differenceTotal perceived acidity. Rises in cooler climates and with earlier picking; falls with heat and ripeness.
Nebbiolo is fresher and more acidic: high against medium-plus.
Body
Clear differenceThe overall weight and viscosity of the wine in the mouth — a composite of alcohol, sugar, extract and glycerol.
Touriga Nacional is fuller and richer: high against medium-plus.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Tannin: Similar — both high.
- Alcohol: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Oak influence: Similar — both medium.
- Herbal / green character: Similar — both low.
- Spice: Similar — both medium.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Nebbiolo | Touriga Nacional |
|---|---|---|
| Earthy character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | low (1/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | medium (3/5) |
| Acidity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Body | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Floral character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Texture | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Tannin | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Oak influence | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Spice | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 16–18°C | 16–18°C |
| Typical flavours | sour cherry, rose, tar, dried herbs, truffle | violet, bergamot, blackberry, blueberry, rockrose |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Grape
Nebbiolo
The grape of Barolo and Barbaresco: pale in colour, ferocious in tannin, and among the most perfumed reds in the world.
Grape
Touriga Nacional
Portugal’s most prized red variety: intensely floral, deeply coloured and firmly structured.
Comparison
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Comparison
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Two pale, perfumed, ageworthy reds — and one of them will strip your gums.
Comparison
Nebbiolo vs Aglianico
Italy’s two great tannic reds, one northern and one southern — which suits you?