Comparison
Touriga Nacional vs Xinomavro
How Touriga Nacional and Xinomavro differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Xinomavro has more earthy character; Touriga Nacional has more sweetness; Touriga Nacional has more body.
Choose
Touriga Nacional
Choose Touriga Nacional if you want something sweeter, fuller and richer, fruitier.
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.
Xinomavro 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.
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.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Touriga Nacional is fruitier: high against medium.
Savoury character
Clear differenceNon-fruit, umami-adjacent character: meat, leather, olive, soy, broth, cured notes. Often increases with age.
Xinomavro is more savoury: high against medium.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Touriga Nacional is more floral: high against medium.
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.
- Aromatic intensity: Similar — both medium.
- Oak influence: Similar — both medium.
- Herbal / green character: Similar — both low.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Touriga Nacional | Xinomavro |
|---|---|---|
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Sweetness | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) | low (1/5) |
| Body | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Floral character | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Spice | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | low (1/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Acidity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Texture | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| 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 medium-plus (4/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | medium (3/5) | medium (3/5) |
| Oak influence | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 16–18°C | 15–17°C |
| Typical flavours | violet, bergamot, blackberry, blueberry, rockrose | sun-dried tomato, olive, red cherry, dried herbs, leather |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Grape
Touriga Nacional
Portugal’s most prized red variety: intensely floral, deeply coloured and firmly structured.
Grape
Xinomavro
Northern Greece’s great red: pale, austere, extremely tannic and scented of dried tomato and olive.
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